Youth Endowment Fund launches 10-year strategy to tackle youth violence

The funding has been handed from the Home Office to charity Youth Endowment Fund to invest over the next 10 years to fund initiatives that prevent children and young people becoming involved in violent crime.

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The charity is calling on children’s professionals to take part in a consultation over priorities for the investment for the first stage of fundng, from 2021 to 2023.

It has also pledged to consult with young people and children who have experience of being involved in violence.

“When children become involved in violence its devastating to them, their families and their communities,” said Jon Yates, director of the Youth Endowment Fund executive.

“There isn’t a simply solution. But together we have a once in a generation opportunity to find what works best and make change happen to keep our children safe.”

Today we've launched our 10 year, £200m strategy. Find out how we'll use evidence, expertise and young people’s voices to keep children safe from violence: 🔗https://t.co/gvfa1yGcH4 pic.twitter.com/fHce1B3kUu

— Youth Endowment Fund (@YouthEndowFund) October 7, 2020

A strategy outlining the details of the funding’s objectives has been published by the Youth Endowment.

This stresses the need for early intervention funding in preventing youth violence. A Neighbourhood Fund will be included in the 10-year funding, to target areas with high crime rates.

Meanwhile, grants will be handed out to projects that focus on priority themes such as school exclusions and child exploitation.

“If we want to change things, we will have to focus,” states the strategy.

“That’s why much of our funding will be on a series of priority themes, one or two at any one time. These might include churn of staff in social care, criminal exploitation, school absences or detached youth work.

“How will we choose our themes? We’ll focus on areas where change is possible, where we can learn about what works and build a coalition with those who want to do things differently.”

Evaluation is another focus of the strategy as is “listening to children and young people”.

“Often, people with power don’t know enough about the lives of children and young people most at risk. The Fund us committed to hearing their voices and meaningfully involving them in decision making,” said the charitable trust.

Another focus is building partnerships to tackle youth violence between children’s social workers, teachers, youth workers and the police.

Last month, a report from organisations tackling youth violence found that more than half of young people impacted by violent crime had been unable to access support during Covid-19 lockdown.