Youth violence prevention scheme to expand to three London hospitals
Fiona Simpson
Friday, January 24, 2020
A hospital-based youth work service that helps young people affected by violent and gang-related crime will expand to three more London emergency departments.
Redthread, which places youth workers in hospitals to support victims of violent crime is set to deploy teams at Croydon University Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich and University Hospital in Lewisham in the spring.
Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon Central and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on knife crime said she was “delighted” to see the scheme expand to Croydon.
"I've seen first-hand the incredible work Redthread's youth workers do, supporting young people and helping break the cycle of violence which has devastated families in Croydon. Their approach is proven to work, with more than a decade of experience in other London hospitals like King’s.
“That's why I lobbied the mayor of London for funding to bring Redthread to more hospitals, including Croydon University Hospital, and I'm delighted we've been able to make this a reality,” she said.
In December last year, the organisation announced plans for a partnership with University College Hospital London to begin in March.
Jo Begent, a consultant who specialises in working with young people, said: “At UCLH we see at least 60 young people a week in our paediatric emergency department, aged 13-18. Approximately one third of these have soft tissue injuries. Of these, a third, i.e at least one a day, has a very concerning injury that is either clearly a stabbing or has features suggestive of a criminal or gang-related injury.”
An estimated 200 young people attend the four London major trauma centres - St George’s in Tooting, St Mary’s in Paddington, the Royal London in Whitechapel and King’s College Hospital in Camberwell - each month having been stabbed or assaulted.
Redthread started its early intervention programme at King’s 14 years ago and currently supports 11- to 24-year-olds involved in or at risk of criminal exploitation and gang violence at seven sites across the capital and the Midlands.
Latest government figures show that more than a fifth of offences involving a knife or offensive weapon recorded last year were committed by children.
The charity is inviting people interested in the new youth work or team leader positions to come along to an open evening, to be held at King’s on 27 January at 6.30pm.
John Poyton, Redthread chief executive, said: “These roles are a unique opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with some of the best emergency medics in the country, while also giving youth workers the chance to change the lives of vulnerable young people.
“Over the years we’ve hired people from a wide range of backgrounds. Some have lived experience of the issues we tackle, some have extensive professional experience across health, education or social care – some have both.”
