London's Violence Reduction Unit

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Our flagship ‘MyEnds’ programme both invests in and brings community members together in 11 hyper-local areas to deliver meaningful change and keep young people safe. It’s community-led. Neighbourhood focused. Award-winning.

The homicide rate for under-25s is now 3x lower than it was when I set up the VRU in 2019, and hospital admissions of young people for knife assault have almost halved in the same period. London is safer thanks to the prevention work of @london-vru.bsky.social.

My record investment in @london-vru.bsky.social is saving lives, and changing the prospects for young Londoners in the process ⬇️️

Latest figures show prevention is making the difference. With support from @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social, we’ve worked in partnership to put early intervention at the heart of London’s approach, keeping young people safe and helping them thrive. More on BBC News: bbc.in/49qTEnv

Today marks a major milestone. Figures show the number of homicides of young people under-25 were the lowest this century. Data also shows homicides of young people were three times higher when we were set up than they are today. 🔗Read more: bit.ly/49yotoS

🎯Following a strong campaign from our Young People’s Action Group, the Met Police has changed its approach to sharing knife imagery. ‼️When young people are listened to, change can happen. london.gov.uk/vru-and-its-...

'We persuaded police to rethink sharing images of knives' A campaign led by our Young People's Action Group has resulted in @metpoliceuk changing its policy on posting knife imagery on social media. Read here 👇 @bbclondon.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

⚽ The iconic @wembleystadium.bsky.social was the backdrop for our new partnership with the foundations of all 17 professional football clubs in London. 🙌 We were joined by @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social and clubs from across the city who have united with us to support young people and tackle violence

This is London United: changing lives through football. My @london-vru.bsky.social is partnering with all 17 of London’s football clubs to provide positive opportunities for thousands of young Londoners and help keep them safe. youtu.be/yGz7x9hWowY?...

⚽ Football is a hook to engage young people. 🙌 Our new partnership with all 17 London football club foundations is a commitment to tackle violence and provide positive opportunities for young Londoners. @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social speaks to @bbclondon.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

⚽Wembley was the stage for the launch of our major new partnership with the community foundations of all 17 of London’s professional football clubs to help young people stay safe and thrive. 💙 We’ve teamed up with clubs to show London is united in tackling violence 👉 london.gov.uk/major-landma...

Violent crime with injury is down in every London borough thanks to record City Hall funding and the collective efforts of the police and @london-vru.bsky.social We’ll keep working with partners and the government to drive down crime and make London safer for everyone.

Youth workers in police custody and hospitals are diverting young people away from violence and towards a brighter future. Funding from @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social shows that prevention and early intervention works to keep young people safe. More on @theguardian.com: bit.ly/3HpDr6c

"Avenues is our safe space" Youth clubs like The Avenues provide safe spaces and access to opportunities Our £1m investment in sports activities will level the playing field and boost the mental & physical health of young Londoners More on @bbcnewsofficial.bsky.social bbc.co.uk/news/article...

📻 @libpeck.bsky.social joined Eddie Nestor MBE on BBC Radio London about our new £1m funding with @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social for sports provision in youth clubs and hubs. 🔗 Listen from 2:36:09: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

🚨£1m investment in sport and physical activities. 🤝With @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social the @mayoroflondon.bsky.social we're delivering opportunities during all school holidays over the next year for young people most underrepresented in sport. ➡️ london.gov.uk/mayor-announ...

My @london-vru.bsky.social is investing a further £1m in sports provision to ensure children and young people are safe, thriving and have access to positive opportunities that benefit their physical and mental health over the easter holidays and the rest of the year.

🔗 Evidence shows there is a link between school exclusion and violence. 🏫 It's why we have been working to tackle rising suspensions, exclusions and persistent absenteeism through #LondonsInclusionCharter. ➡️Read our view with @libpeck.bsky.social: theguardian.com/education/20...

Coverage about a London Assembly focus on violence against women and girls. @libpeck.bsky.social spoke about: ✅ @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social's new VAWG strategy building on the VRU's public health approach ✅ Our prevention work in schools & tackling online harms bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We are committed to intervening to divert young people away from exploitation. With @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social, we fund The Safety Box & others to tackle violence in the after-school period. We must focus on preventing violence, not just responding to it. @the-independent.com t.co/6cQVXEqoNU

Evidence shows 60% of young offenders have speech & language difficulties. With @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social, we’re helping primary school children with oracy interventions. Results show: 98% narrowed gap to their peers 60% meeting standards in vocab @annafazack.bsky.social t.co/aHxIEcTY2S

Our brilliant @libpeck.bsky.social has one of the hardest jobs in London leading the @london.gov.uk @london-vru.bsky.social - as you can hear she’s determined and passionate about changing - and saving - young lives

Our director @libpeck.bsky.social joined Eddie Nestor MBE to take calls from BBC Radio London listeners. We talked about: 💡 What the VRU does 💡 Tackling school exclusions 💡 Building back the youth workers sector Listen here: lnkd.in/eDYceQRe

🧡We’re delighted to have secured £9.4m investment from @ukhomeoffice.bsky.social to fund youth work supporting young people in hospital and police custody suites. ➡️We are guiding young Londoners at a moment of crisis with a route away from violence: london.gov.uk/media-centre...

🎉We launched #LondonsInclusionCharter a year ago with @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social, @mayoroflondon.bsky.social 🤝The Charter is working in partnership with schools, young people and families, to keep children safe and supported so they belong and thrive in school. ➡️Find out more: bit.ly/4gozKJV

'Building healthy relationships from the classroom up' We took @ndironsmp.bsky.social to see our schools programme with @tenderuk.bsky.social & Nurture. We have seen: 90% of pupils better understand healthy relationships 80% able to spot red flags in a relationship tender.org.uk/building-hea...

We’ve reached an amazing milestone: we’ve provided mentors to 100,000 young Londoners in need. I’m proud that City Hall and @london-vru.bsky.social have worked with more than 150 youth organisations and mentors to give young Londoners one-to-one support when they need it most.

📢“We have seen the life-changing impact this relationship can have on a young person, sometimes at a time of crisis." - @libpeck.bsky.social, Director of London's VRU ➡️More on @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy: www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

🧡Mentoring changes lives. 💡Working with City Hall, our funding through @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social has enabled more than 150 organisations to reach young people most in need of support and divert them away from harm, exploitation and crime. ➡️Read more: bit.ly/3PAMK42

Youth workers offer a lifeline for young people following arrest for a violent offence. We fund two programmes - Divert and Engage - to embed youth workers in police custody to prevent reoffending and provide support. So far, we've reached 10,000 young people. 📺@itvlondon ⬇️ youtu.be/81odn4wMJaA

📻 Our Director @libpeck.bsky.social and Tsion of Bridge The Gap Studios joined BBC Radio London to talk about our new programme to support fathers. 🎙️ How does that contribute to tackling violence? 🎙️What evidence is there about the impact of absent fathers? 👂 from 2.45 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Fathers play a crucial role in children's lives. We're working to break cycles of crime, trauma, and family breakdown to strengthen families. With support from @london.gov.uk @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social, we've invested in grassroots organisations to provide support. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We joined Orchardside School to see how mentors are supporting young people to: ✔️ increase school attendance ✔️ boost opportunities in further education or into employment Read more about our £2.3m investment on @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy: bit.ly/3AHugLw