From today, (Friday 1 August), ninja swords across England and Wales have been banned and the law around ownership change. Under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment, Surrender …
Serious Violence Duty Projects
Funded through the Government's Serious Violence Duty
Serious Violence Duty Projects
In 2022/23 the Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) Board became the accountable body for the delivery of the Government’s Serious Violence Duty across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
In September 2022, the VRA were notified of funding they would received from the Government to implement a number of initiatives to support the local Violence Reduction Strategy. The projects below have been implemented by partners across the City an County.
Community Engagement
Staffordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) were commissioned by the VRA to engage with children and young people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to inform the development of the Violence Reduction Strategy, commissioning of services and future awareness campaigns. Find out more here.
#TogetherAgainstAbuse
The VRA launched the #TogetherAgainstAbuse campaign to tackle violence against frontline workers. Developed in partnership with Staffordshire Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent integrated Care Board, the campaign raises awareness of how frontline workers are people too. Find out more here.
Health Link Programme Lead
Funded by the VRA and hosted by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent integrated Care Board (ICB), the Health Link Programme Lead supports the improvement of data sharing across the ICB, supports the implementation of initiatives to prevent and reduce serious violence, embeds violence reduction across the local health system and supports joint commissioning.
Talking Therapies
On behalf of the VRA, the ICB has commissioned Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust to deliver a Talking therapies service, working with the Police Violence Reduction Team cohort. Colleagues have been recruited and supported through the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Team.
Place-based Approaches
The VRA has provided each of the Community safety Partnerships (CSPs) funding to develop place based approaches to target local serious violence concerns.
Vulnerability Dashboard
Funding has been provided by the VRA to assist with the development of a vulnerability dashboard to support with the identification and safeguarding of vulnerable individuals and communities.
Where Will It End?
The VRA has developed the ‘Where Will It End?’ campaign which has been co-produced with young people, including those who have been affected by violence. The Where Will It End? campaign raises awareness of how emotions and feelings can influence behaviour choices and how low-level violence can escalate to more serious violence. The campaign provides access to coping mechanisms and signposts children and young people to local and national support services. Find out more here.
Navigator & Tailored Support Service
The VRA has commissioned Catch22 to deliver a Navigator and Tailored Support Service across the County and City. The services works to identify and support children and young adults who are involved in, at risk of being involved in, or affected by violence and its associated harms. Evidence suggests that following a violence or traumatic incident, during presentation at hospital or custody, can be a period when individuals may be open to receiving support. Find out more here.
Trauma Informed Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire
Working with the local Safeguarding Children Partnerships, a suite of resources has been developed to support raising awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Trauma and Vicarious Trauma across the workforce. Trauma Informed Stok-on-Trent and Staffordshire (TrISS) has been established as a brand to support the roll out of these partnership resources. Find out more here.
Help and Support available to you
Visit our Support page for further information and advice on where to go for support.
Campaigns
We are taking a partnership and inclusion approach to bringing about positive changes in communities throughout Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent. These projects are created or selected based on understanding and needs of local communities, brought by those who are living and working within them.
Latest News
Over 200 children at risk of, or victims of, Child Criminal Exploitation were supported last year by the Catch22 service, commissioned by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office. A further 169 parents …
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) has launched a new campaign to tackle violence against frontline workers across the City and County. Developed in partnership with Staffordshire Police, …
Our officers have been out in force taking part in enforcement and education, as part of our campaign #DitchTheBlade and a national drive on knife-related crime. Local policing teams (LPTs) …
