Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)
The Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is a partnership between the police, local councils, health service providers and other key agencies to deliver a reduction in violence the county.
It was created in 2019 after the PCC was awarded £1,160,000 from the Home Office. The Government then announced Kent would receive a further £1,160,000 to fund the VRU in 2020/21.
The PCC said: 'Issues around violent crime can not be resolved by Kent Police simply arresting more people. The police and partner agencies need to work together to help lift vulnerable young people out of a life of crime.’
Funding in 2019/20 supported 23 local projects which in turn engaged with around 600 people. They received extra support to help them change their lifestyle from a number of agencies focused on sport, or practical skills like catering or building. Emotional and wellbeing support was also provided.
Other initiatives include a welcome pack for Londoners moving to Maidstone designed to signpost families to support and recognise potential risk factors; and peer-led training in understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These were the winning concepts from a Serious Youth Violence Hackathon event where partners pitched ideas to a board of young people and VRU senior managers.
Money was also used to purchase more than 500 emergency trauma packs (ETPs), which have been distributed across the county.
The VRU's partners have agreed that funding in 2020/21 should be focused on the following areas:
- Work in prisons to reduce re-offending;
- Workshops in schools to engage with young people;
- Community interventions to help prevent serious youth violence;
- Work in custody to support under-25s implicated in violent crime;
- Health-based solutions.
News from the VRU
VRU funded services and contact information
|
Name |
Service Provided |
Age group |
Area covered |
VRU Coordinator Contact |
|
Olympia Boxing |
Work with disadvantaged communities and schools, to reduce ASB and serious crime whilst improving physical and mental health. |
Under 18’s |
Tonbridge Luton Chatham Shepway |
Luton/Chatham/Shepway Tonbridge and Malling |
|
Box It Out (formerly Kent Gloves) |
Sport has been shown to be a successful and cost-effective way of tackling youth crime and gang violence as well as have a positive impact on physical and mental health. |
4-18 |
Gillingham, Medway |
|
|
Street Soccer Foundation |
Targeted support to young people at risk of serious violence by providing diversionary and mentoring activities based around football |
9-25 |
Maidstone |
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The Shed |
The Shed are an open access project which delivers face to face support either through project open sessions or one to one contact |
10-20 |
Folkstone |
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Youth Resilience |
Supporting and developing resilience building in young people. They specialise in delivery around youth violence and gang crime |
5-16 |
County-wide |
|
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Switch Cafe |
Mentoring programmes to help educate young people on the effects and consequences of drug misuse, anger management and gang culture and how they can help themselves. |
11-21 |
Maidstone |
|
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Sport on your doorstep/ Sittingbourne Street Games |
Creating positive change in the lives of disadvantaged young people across Swale. |
Under 18’s |
Sittingbourne |
|
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Brogdale CIC |
Brogdale provide an alternative curriculum provision for young people who are either NEET or at risk of NEET |
Under 18’s |
Swale and Ashford |
|
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Changing Minds CIC |
Supporting young people with their mental health |
14-19 |
Thanet |
|
|
Refocus |
Equip them with skills that will enable them to enter employment or training. Focus on BAME clients. |
17-21 |
North Kent |
|
|
Young Lives Foundation |
Support young people with ACE backgrounds. Young people who are considered to be at risk of offending, socially excluded or in need of support can be referred for a YLF Mentor |
Under 18’s |
Thanet, Swale, Tonbridge and Malling and Gravesham |
|
|
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Safety Partnership |
Education programme to support young people with ACE backgrounds |
Under 18s |
Tonbridge and Malling |
|
|
ACE Angel Lane CIC "ACE informed Housing" |
ACE Angel Lane CIC project is a partnership with Sanctuary Group and Kent Housing to help reduce serious violence in the area, by educating and working together
|
25 and under |
Tonbridge and West Malling |
|
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Dover CSP & CSU & Beechange "ACE Family Support" |
1-1 family support for families with children aged between 0-16, to provide access to a professional counselling service |
0-16 |
Aysesham and Dover |
|
|
SATEDA |
The ACE Ambassador Scheme was developed to support the prevention of ACEs and aimed to reduce the impact of ACEs by working to build awareness of trauma informed practice and building resilience within families, schools, communities and services. |
Under 18’s |
Swale |
|
|
Music Klub |
Support and engagement with young people at risk of re-offending |
16-23 |
Medway |
|
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Pie Factory |
Support and engagement with young people at risk of offending |
16-25 |
Thanet |
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The Mary Dolly Foundation |
Support to young people provided by qualified and experienced practitioners |
11-18 |
Kent |
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Breaking the Cycle |
Direct support to vulnerable, minority and/or hard to reach young people to prevent/reduce victimisation as well as violent crime and anti-social behaviour linked to gangs and illegal drug markets |
14-19 |
Thanet |
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Mid-Kent MIND |
Mind the Knife project raising knife crime awareness to help reduce gang recruitment and violence |
Under 18’s |
Swale and Thanet |
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Mentoring and life skills for those at risk of being involved in serious youth violence |
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Provide support for young people aged 16-21 as they leave the care system |
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pcc.commissioning@Kent.police.uk
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