SEVEN organisations in Salford have been awarded funding from Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to help reduce violence and hate crime, improve community cohesion, and provide opportunities for young people.

Salford is the third borough in the city-region to receive funding from the VRU as part of its £500,000 investment in community-led pilots, outlined in Greater Manchester’s Serious Violence Action Plan.

The community-led approach to violence reduction brings together Greater Manchester Police, National Probation Service, health and education professionals, youth justice and local authorities to address the underlying causes of violence and work together with communities to prevent it.

The VRU works closely with communities to understand the strengths, challenges, and needs of the community and determine how local investments will be made.

In Salford, four voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations will receive grants to focus on hate crime and cohesion – Odd Arts, Swinton Lions RLFC, Oasis Community Hub: Media City UK, and Stay Safe Manchester. Their focus will be on engaging young people in activities which promote respect for the community, challenges hate crime and discrimination, and improves community cohesion, to improve feelings of pride, respect and belonging.

Led by Salford Foundation, Oasis Community Hub: Media City UK and three other VCSE organisations – Foundation 92, Manchester United Foundation, and Salford Community Leisure – will form a partnership to work together to reduce violence and provide opportunities in the local community.

The partnership will focus on providing mentoring programmes and positive role models for young people and families at risk or vulnerable to serious youth violence and criminal exploitation, providing youth work activities that will reach and cater for 10 to 14-year-olds and over 14s, and raising aspirations and supporting young people aged 16 to 25 into employment and training.

Phil East, Chief Executive of Salford Foundation, said: “I am delighted that we have this opportunity to make a real difference to the issue of youth violence in Ordsall and Langworthy. Working with other organisations who have a strong track-record and reputation with local people, we will make significant impact on aspirations and life chances through the activities and support we will be providing.”

Councillor David Lancaster, Lead Member for Environment and Community Safety, Salford City Council said: “Like all major cities, Salford, unfortunately, sees violence from time to time. Involving communities in tackling the issues which affect their area is the best way to get on the ground solutions which work, and I wish the project success.”

Earlier this year, two alliances made up of VCSE organisations in Bolton and Manchester were awarded funds as part of the community-led pilot scheme. The alliances have already created a positive impact in terms of multi-agency partnership work, referrals and access to support, and improved confidence in reporting and targeted work around serious violence with young people.

Bev Hughes, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire, said: “Working together with communities to design jointly the solutions to problems in their area, including how money is spent and when and where interventions are delivered, is the flagship of Greater Manchester’s approach to tackling serious violence.

“By taking a community-led approach we can prevent serious violence while putting families and communities at the very heart of everything we do, ensuring Greater Manchester becomes safer and stronger for everyone and improve outcomes for young people.”

Greater Manchester’s VRU has worked with 10GM – a joint venture of VCSE sector infrastructure organisations in Greater Manchester – to drive forward this programme of work.

For further information about the VRU visit: Homepage – Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (gmvru.co.uk)

Notes to Editor

The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was launched in October 2019 and brings together Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the National Probation Service as well as health, education, and youth justice services and the VCSE sector to address the underlying causes of violent crime and to work together to prevent it.

10GM is a joint venture of local VCSE sector infrastructure organisations in Greater Manchester: Bolton CVS, Salford CVS, Macc and Action Together. These local organisations provide a range of organisational development support, accredited Volunteer Centres, locality and thematic networks and strategic representation across a range of partnerships. 10GM works strategically to strengthen support for the VCSE sector at borough level and ensure connectivity and engagement across the whole of GM. 10GM represents a combined membership of thousands of local VCSE organisations working in communities and neighbourhoods across the city region.

Article posted on: 09/11/2021 09:11am