Words by Smiley Team
The Mayor of London has announced he'll be investing a further £9 million into helping to end violent crime in neighbourhoods around London.
The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) will be using this £9 million to tackle violence in London using flagship, community-led programmes.
Set up by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London in 2019, the Violence Reduction Unit is attempting to drastically lower the number of violent incidents in London, particularly those involving young people. And the most recent investment will include after-school activities and mentoring sessions.
“I set up London’s Violence Reduction Unit in 2019 to lead an approach to tackling violence that is rooted in prevention and early intervention,” said Sadiq. “I’ve continued to back this approach and, this year, my VRU is working to support and provide positive opportunities for 70,000 young Londoners."
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He continued: "Thanks to our approach, we have seen some progress. There is still a lot more to do, but London is now bucking the national trend, with violent crime falling since 2016.”
A further £3.9 million is being invested, alongside the £9 million from the Mayor. This money is going to be aimed at training practitioners to help teach young people about the internet and social media - this includes safeguarding risks, among other aspects.
“We believe violence is preventable, not inevitable,” said Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit. “We listen to local people and work alongside communities to deliver change, reduce violence and support young people and families.”
DONATE: Give to KnifeSavers to help educate people about knife crime, and what to do when faced with life-threatening knife injuries.
VOLUNTEER: Give your time to Stand Against Violence, and help to keep the conversation about ending violence in communities going.
