Trauma-informed youth work key to tackling violence, report finds

The Holding Our Own report provides a guide to non-policing solutions to serious youth violence, touching on a range of issues including drugs policing and mental health, police in schools, and racist prosecutions.

Safe and trauma-informed youth services for people from marginalised communities are highlighted in the report as key to helping young people process and heal from racism.

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“In a context where young people of colour face racism and exclusion daily, it is vital for us to build spaces that allow young people to heal from these experiences,” the report states.

It adds that government neglect is damaging young people and their communities by failing to invest in youth services, adding that the policing of young people is causing them serious harm.

The report calls for investment in young people and a rollback of police powers, demanding an end to cuts to youth services, an end to school exclusions and removing police from schools.

It also urges pre-crime policing and surveillance practices that make public services unsafe for young people to be stopped.

The report was authored by a coalition of nine organisations working across human rights, youth justice, mental health, youth services and policing, including the human rights organisation Liberty and mental health charity National Survivor User Network (NSUN).

Martha Spuirrier, director of Liberty, said: “Our communities need investment, so that together we can create spaces and services that we know will give our young people the best chance in life. And we need to roll back the powers of the police so no-one faces harsh and traumatising treatment at the hands of police.”

A spokesperson from NSUN added: “Often, we see calls for increased and expanded mental health services as something that could help tackle the root causes of violence. Our contribution focusses on the ways in which traditional mental health services can be places where people face violence through coercion and restrictive practice.”

Other youth justice organisations have welcomed the report.

Former children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield, who is now chair of the Commission on Young Lives, said: “The cuts to youth services over the last decade were a historic mistake. Rebuilding a network of support that intervenes early and prevents young people from falling through the gaps and into danger has never been more urgent.”

David Parks, managing director of the Skill Mill – a social enterprise providing employment for young ex-offenders – added: “This report helps to shine a light on the damage to young people’s life chances caused through exclusion and further criminalisation.

“At The Skill Mill we have witnessed a dramatic reduction in all offences committed by young people involved in serious violence by creating genuine meaningful paid work opportunities. It is transformational activity such as this which is required to break the cycle of offending and help young people to change their identity and life path.”