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Sep 07 2023

Being inspired at Kids Inspire

The VVU team recently dropped in on a Kids Inspire supporter day to hear an update on the fantastic work the charity does. We support Kids Inspire through our Violence & Vulnerability secondary prevention work stream by funding their whole-family therapeutic support programme ‘Healing Connections’. The funding enables Kids Inspire to deliver a targeted countywide […]

Jul 11 2022

Graffiti project brightens up Chelmsford (June 2022)

Young people have been hard at work brightening up two locations in Chelmsford with new artwork and graffiti. Central Park underpass and Chelmer Valley nature reserve (under the bridge on the bunny walks) have been transformed by the creative skills of local young people, those who use the Central Park skate park, and a group […]

Jul 11 2022

Our new project: ReRoute (June 2022)

We are working on a new project called ReRoute.  This project works with young people who have been arrested on possession of carrying a knife but who are waiting to be charged to court. There can be a considerable amount of time between arrest and a court date; by working in this time period to […]

Jul 11 2022

The success of detached youth work (June 2022)

We are consistently told by young people across Essex they want safe activities to participate in and safe places to meet, alongside adults they can talk to and trust. For the past 18 months we’ve worked with Essex Council of Voluntary Youth Services (ECVYS) and Active Essex to fund detached youth workers in areas of […]

May 12 2022

Using nature for therapy

Hidden away in the Chelmsford countryside is the Wilderness Foundation, an organisation that offers nature based therapy and outreach programmes to vulnerable children, young people and adults. The Wilderness Foundation runs projects that support vulnerable groups, including projects that support young people who are at risk, those who have experienced trauma or have behavioural issues […]

Nov 09 2021

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’ […]