LifeLine is pleased to announce the launch of a new capacity building programme, SW!TCH Communities. The programme is funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime through the Violence Reduction Unit and the local councils of Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, and Havering.
The programme will help communities develop place-based responses to the issue of serious youth violence, its causes and consequences. SW!TCH Communities will help create a shared understanding of underlying issues and concerns and ensuring that different voices, young and old, are heard. We all have a role to play in safeguarding our young people from violence by strengthening relations between those living and working in our community.
SW!TCH Communities will endeavour to increase the ability of the community to respond to the problem of serious youth violence in ways that identifies and de-escalates the drivers of violence before they erupt into harm.
The programme targets are
- Young people leading change
- Developing grassroots led response to serious youth violence
- Understanding of, and responding to, local tensions
- Reduction in local serious youth violence incidents and those perpetrated by local residents elsewhere
- Reduction in re-offending and an improved take up of pro-social activities by young people
SW!TCH Communities activities will include
- Connecting with local community leaders and existing groups and local panels to discuss local needs, share project plans and form a local Response Group
- Drop-ins, coffee mornings and door knocking to consult with local people
- Extended youth sessions through detached, outreach in local schools to garner young people’s views and engagement in training and delivery
