£300,000 funding boost for community sport programmes supporting young people at risk of violence

Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has provided £300,000 of investment for community sport through the Greater Manchester Violence Prevention Fund. StreetGames are the VRU’s strategic sports partner and are responsible for commissioning organisations that can deliver against the VRU’s strategic sports plan. The £300,000 investment will use community sport-based interventions to enhance positive outcomes […]

First ‘We are Greater’ week for young people organised by Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit

‘We are Greater’ week sees schools, colleges, youth groups and sports teams from across Greater Manchester encourage young people to be greater than violence by participating in positive activities in their local areas. The week is inspired by the Violence Reduction Unit’s ‘I am Greater’ campaign which encourages young people to be greater than violence […]

Programme that helps young people transition from primary to secondary school supports over 150 students in year one

Funded by Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit, the primary transitions programme supports young people with the transition from primary to secondary school to mitigate potential risks of involvement in or connection with violence. The programme (also referred to as Blocks) responds to feedback from primary schools that intergenerational violence and knife carrying are affecting children […]

Violence Reduction Unit mentoring offer in Bury prevents young people becoming involved in crime

On Friday 20th October, the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester visited the Violence Reduction Unit’s (VRU’s) community-led programme in Bury to hear about the positive impact it is having in preventing young people becoming involved in serious violence and other crimes. The programme in Bury works with young people aged between 10 and 25, and […]

500 young people take part in sports and positive activities in Bolton through Violence Reduction Unit’s community-led programme

On Wednesday 18th October, the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester visited the Violence Reduction Unit’s (VRU’s) community-led programme in Bolton to hear about the positive impact it is having in preventing young people becoming involved in serious violence and other crimes. The programme in Bolton works with young people aged between 10 and 25, and […]

In Focus: Innovative and Effective Approaches to Tackling Serious Violence

In the latest edition of ‘In Focus’ published by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the impact of VRU’s across the UK is highlighted, as well as case studies and lessons learnt. Read it here: In Focus – Innovative and Effective approaches to Tackling Serious Violence

New pilot project supports men on probation to build family relationships and break the cycle of crime

Stepping Up is a relationships and parenting programme jointly commissioned by Greater Manchester Probation Service and the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit. The project is delivered by TLC: Talk, Listen, Change; a national relationships charity based in Trafford. Launched in July 2023, the 6-month pilot works across four areas of Greater Manchester – Oldham, Rochdale, […]

Service for parents and carers concerned about their children becoming involved in violence launched by Violence Reduction Unit

Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has invested £750,000 to develop a programme of support for parents and carers who have concerns about their child. They may have noticed a change in their child’s behaviour, and/or, suspect that their child is involved in violence, criminality or potentially being exploited. The service is free and confidential, […]

Positive Relationships training delivered across Greater Manchester

In January 2022, the Violence Reduction Unit commissioned Dignifi to design a bespoke training course that specifically explored the impacts of growing up around domestic violence. Dignifi worked with Lived Experience Consultants and Research Associates to design a bespoke course that covered the following modules; Developmental trauma Experiencing domestic abuse in childhood Long-term impact of […]