02 November 2023
Summary:
Lambeth communities on two large MTVH estates will benefit from additional funding from the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). The overall fund is £3.1m and MTVH has been successful in receiving £169k for Lambeth, and we will lead a partnership with local grass roots organisations Big Kid Foundation, Bridge the Gap and Step Now at our Moorlands and Clapham Park estates as part of the VRU’s Stronger Futures flagship after-school programme.
Recent events in London involving knife crime shows how violence can devastate communities. At MTVH we are united in grief along with the family and friends of the victims of recent attacks in Croydon, Roundshaw and Brixton and we join with the local community in our support to drive down incidents of violent crime.
Building partnerships and investing in services which support young people to live fulfilling lives away from violence and crime could scarcely be more important. With evidence showing that violence affecting young people is most likely to happen between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. on school days, the VRU’S Stronger Futures partnership aims to fill the voids which leads to this terrible violence through giving young people the opportunities which can prevent their exposure to criminal exploitation.
Stronger Futures will support more than 600 young people aged between 10 and 18 on Moorlands and Clapham Park who may be at risk of violence, exploitation, or grooming. The partnership will deliver prevention and early intervention work during the hours of 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on school days.
The VRU has invested in 23 targeted projects being delivered across 25 boroughs that are working with young people after school and at weekends, to improve educational outcomes and reduce school exclusions. IT IS working with partners to improve employability prospects and mental health and wellbeing.
Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said:
“We firmly believe that violence is preventable, not inevitable.
“That means using evidence to understand where best to intervene to make the biggest difference in a young person’s life.
“Our Stronger Futures programme recognises the importance of keeping young people safe after school and that’s why we’re building on it by boosting funding to treble the number of young people who will now access support, mentoring and vital opportunities.
“Youth workers play an integral role in this approach, which forms a key part of the VRU’s efforts to help keep young people safe to enable them to thrive.”
Kush Rawal, Executive Director of Customer Services at MTVH, said:
“At MTVH we have been united in our grief on the recent incidents of youth violence. These have been extremely shocking and saddening and our thoughts are with all those effected. We are determined to do all we can to help eradicate youth violence and it’s causes, including social inequalities. Collaboration is key to achieving this.
With the support of VRU’s Stronger Futures funding, we are partnering with local grassroots organisations to provide a variety of activities in areas experiencing high levels of violence affecting young people. The activities we are delivering are aspirational, educational, and fun to help reduce the risks young people face in terms of criminal exploitation and help to create the opportunities they need to realise their full potential.”