The PCC was awarded £1,160,000 from the Home Office in 2019 to set up a Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) across Kent and Medway.

The VRU is a partnership between Kent Police, local councils, health service providers and other key agencies to deliver a reduction in violence.

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.’

As a result of this more than £600,000 was made available for local organisations to bid into. The evaluation process included identifying applications which clearly met the VRU themes and criteria:

  • Protect - reduce vulnerability of communities from the threat of violence,
  • Pursue - disrupt and prosecute those who are responsible for violence,
  • Prevent - avoid young people becoming involved in serious violence,
  • Prepare - ensure we understand and are able to tackle serious violence,
  • Partnerships - work collaboratively, with a community focus.

In December 2019, the Government announced Kent would provisionally receive a further £1,160,000 for its VRU in 2020/21.

Funding recipients

Funding recipients 2019/20

Organisation Project £
HMP Elmley Offender and family re-engagement work, to reduce violence and gang activity in prison by increasing support from outside of prison 14,848
Medway Council Integrated Adolescent Unit, working with families and individuals of concern 50,000
Kent County Council 'Making Kent and Medway Adverse Childhood Experiences Aware' event 8,500
KCC Headstart and the Leigh Acadamies Trust Training for school staff and peer mentors, plus targeted interventions with young people 50,000
Kent Gloves ABC CIC  Diversionary activities teaching discipline and fitness to young people in North Kent 9,000
Medway Council Re-offending project which requires a young person to participate in scheduled activities or appointments 50,000
Sheppey Matters The Mediterranean Diet project, in which participants learn about a healthier, well balanced, nutritious, tasty and budget-friendly diet 6,030
Sheppey Matters Sheppey FM radio skills experience programme 4,140
Forward Trust Working with female offenders in and out of prison 45,000
KCC Adolescent service Youth work focusing on area hot spots to build effective and trusted relationships and getting young people involved in positive activities 50,000
Canterbury Community Safety Partnership Part-time Youth Partnership Officer based at Canterbury City Council 9,500
VRU Project Delivery Knife wands, trauma packs and first aid training across multiple district areas 104,000
Street Soccer Foundation CIC Schools-based programme blending football and mindset training for vulnerable young people at risk of, or involved in, serious violence 37,200
Maidstone and Mid Kent Mind Programmes in partnership with Youth Resilience Forum to address knife crime among young people 31,200
Ashford Community Safety Partnership CHESS - working with communities to assess how the environment in high-crime areas can be improved 27,587
Kent Youth Justice  First aid training, to include how to deal with sharp object/knife wounds 19,000
Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Voice of Young Maidstone survey to be circulated to 11-18 year olds 7,000
Circles South East  Keep Safe Programme - education and youth service mentoring 30,800