VVU future secured till 2025

Last week the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Partnership was awarded over £5 million from the Home Office to continue the fight against drug driven violence, county lines and knife crime.

This funding, to be distributed across the next three years, guarantees the continuation of the Violence and Vulnerability programme and is a large increase on previous funding - acknowledging the success of the work underway across Essex.

The Partnership has developed a strategic approach that is delivering significant results in the fight against violent crime. This is informed by a strong evidence base and the lived experience of individuals and communities which underpin its public health approach to tackling violence and its root causes. The unique focus on vulnerability recognises there are underlying factors that contribute to serious violence, and it is these factors the Partnership is responding to by addressing vulnerability, providing early interventions and targeted, tailored programmes.

The Home Office funding has also been generously boosted for 2022 / 23 by contributions of £500k from Essex County Council and £600k from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex. (As announced in their budgets in February).

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership said: “Violence in our communities affects us all; the vulnerable who are groomed into a life of crime, the families living without a loved one, the victims of drug driven crime and all of us in wider society who want to live free from the fear of violence.

“This continued funding from the Home Office allows us to continue at pace, with the progress we have been making across the County to support young people and their families.”

Since creation of the Essex VVU back in 2019 the Partnership has:

• Worked with over 50 local charities and voluntary sector organisations to fund localised projects
• Given out £500,000 in funding to local groups
• Worked with more than 2,000 young people and children to better understand their experience of serious violence and what they would like to see in response to the issues which impact on them
• Delivered 5,000 hours of detached youth work across Essex
• Delivered training to a wide variety of professionals working with children and young people – helping them spot the signs of exploitation and identify those at risk
• Worked with Essex Police to safeguard vulnerable individuals identified through operational police work
• Supported over 10,000 individuals through support, positive activities and intervention programmes over the last three years. This includes working with 1,200 individuals at risk of offending by delivering bespoke support packages to change and address behaviour.