Targeted work in Tendring (January 2021)
As part of our targeted intervention work – where we work in identified localities to support young people, their families and communities – we are working in Tendring with the Community Safety Partnership and UTurn4Support to deliver a Wellbeing and Resilience Project to young people identified as at risk of offending. The young people are […]
January 2022: Tell us about knife crime
The VVU wants to understand more about the perception of knife crime in Essex and whether individuals – particularly parents – feel confident in talking to their children about the associated dangers and risks of carrying a knife or bladed weapon. We would like to understand if there are enough resources available to support parents […]
December 2021: Our county; going country social media campaign evaluation
At the end of March 2021, the VVU ran a campaign on social media to raise awareness of County Lines drug gangs. The target audience for the campaign was young people who were possibly on the periphery of getting involved in County Lines. These young people may have seen drug deals locally, have concerns about […]
September 2021 – The Knife Angel in Chelmsford
Throughout September, Chelmsford’s Central Park hosted The Knife Angel, a powerful monument warning of the dangers of knife crime. The Knife Angel is a 27-foot sculpture constructed from 100,000 confiscated or surrendered weapons, including blunted flick knives, kitchen knives and even samurai swords. It is hoped its message to ‘Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife’ […]
Rainbow Services, Harlow (Autumn 2021)
One of the projects the VVU supports is Rainbow Services in Harlow, and specifically a fantastic project that helps young people gain qualifications in construction. Young people referred to the Workshop at Rainbow Services are welcomed into a supportive and practical community-based environment. With help from volunteer mentors they learn how to build and construct […]
June 2021 – Our work to tackle serious violence in Essex
While the VVU brings together partners to tackle the root causes of why people become involved in violent crime, knife crime and gangs it is important that the enforcement activity remains high profile and centre stage. Enforcement activity not only catches and punishes criminal behaviour, but it reassures and protects the Essex public, and helps […]
