Violence Reduction Unit provides summer activities for youth in London

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced his Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has invested £2 million in a package of activities and targeted interventions this summer to divert thousands of young people away from violence by providing access to positive opportunities.

The Mayor is committed to tackling violence and has provided investment for his VRU to fund hundreds of activities and opportunities in training and employment for young people in greatest need of support. 

The package of activities, ranging from sport to music production to mentoring, will work to support young people during the summer when evidence shows they are more vulnerable to exploitation and to violence. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that tackling violence is his "top priority." He added that the VRU is "putting the next generation of Londoners front and centre and working to provide the investment, support and helping hand for young people who need it the most."

The VRU has funded grassroots organisations, charities and local authorities to provide access to support and positive things to do for young people in areas of the capital most affected by violence.  

This includes, for the first time, funding a small number of Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision settings so they can continue providing ongoing support during the summer holidays, which includes boxing and BMX coaching, trips outside their community and opportunities to develop skills in carpentry and hair and beauty. 

Alongside this, funding will help to deliver the Summer Innovation Fund which provides funding to support twice the number of grassroots, community–led groups to test new approaches and ideas to support vulnerable Londoners.

There are 16 projects being funded and delivering throughout the summer holidays. These interventions and activities will support more than 3,200 young people. Projects include music production, business creation and support, cricket, basketball, table tennis, badminton, football, cycling training, dance, digital storytelling, roller-skating, boxing, and mentoring.

Lib Peck, director of London’s VRU, said: “The summer holidays are a really important period in a young person’s life. It should be a time to explore, to have fun and to build and make friendships.

“That’s why, with the Mayor’s investment and support, we’re delivering on a programme of activities this summer for thousands of young people to ensure they are safe, supported and have access to opportunities."

The director said: “We’re committed to investing in young people and giving them the opportunities they deserve because we firmly believe that violence is preventable, not inevitable.”