Youth groups we want to listen to you!

Last year the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit invested £1.6million in county wide interventions to help keep young people across Southend, Essex and Thurrock safe.

The interventions the money was invested in were based on information gathered from the 2022 Listening Project which asked young people across Essex what they need to feel safe and be safer.

We are now calling for youth groups across Essex to take part in the 2024 Listening Project and help shape where we place resource in the future.

Thanks to the direct views of young people the investment in 2022 – 2023 meant that:

11,000 children and young people were supported through grants for local youth work to 20 community groups
536,000 young people engaged in education around knife crime through work in schools and online campaigns
£42,000 was spent on CCTV, youth club activities, and safe places
20 young people were supported back into education and employment after an arrest
189 vulnerable young people were supported in hospitals to make positive life choices
3,000 young people engaged with youth work in places young people choose to hang out (like parks/streets)
77 young people who were stopped by police because of drugs, made positive changes and were diverted away from arrest
5305 ‘higher risk’ children and young people were supported through sports, mentoring and group work

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership said: “The listening project is such a valuable way to understand issues affecting our young people. By listening we know where to invest and focus resource so young people are supported. I would encourage youth groups to get involved in the 2024 listening projects and help shape a safe county for young people to grow up in.”

The Listening Project is run by Essex Council of Voluntary Youth Service on behalf of the Violence and Vulnerability Unit and seeks the views of young people on a range of issues around youth violence.

Youth groups across Essex are invited to take part in the 2024 listening projects and will be provided with questions and a session plan to run with their young people before the closing date in early March.

To find out the criteria to take part, register interest or for more information email [email protected]