Staffordshire Police officers across Staffordshire will be raising awareness of drink-spiking and the work we do to support victims, as part of a national campaign to help people stay safe …
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Community Engagement
Between February and June 2023, the Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) consulted with communities to help professionals to better understand their views and concerns and to inform the development of the Violence Reduction Strategy.
Community Engagement
The VRA has consulted with children & young people and parents & carers on their perceptions around violence.
The findings from the engagement exercises have helped to inform the development of the Violence Reduction Strategy, identify support required locally and help to shape future awareness campaigns.
Children and Young People
On behalf of the VRA, Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS) engaged with children and young people aged 11-25 years old living across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The consultation aimed to understand the views and concerns of young people, and how as a partnership we can work together to improve community safety across the County and City.
There were two elements to the work;
Online survey – Over 1,640 children and young people shared their perceptions around violence, community safety, social and digital media and violence against women and girls via an online survey.
Targeted face to face workshops – 63 young people, who have been directly affected by violence, shared their views through face to face workshops held by a local community group.
Key findings from the online engagement exercise include:
- 58% of respondents felt violence is an issue across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent;
- 89% of young people said they do not think it is normal for young people to carry a knife in their home area;
- 52% said more CCTV would help them to feel safer;
- 88% reported they generally felt safe in their home area during the day, but this reduced to 44% during hours of darkness
Read the full report on Young People’s Perception of Violence in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent here.
Parents and Carers
With support from local parent group, Chit Chat 4 U, the VRA asked parents and carers for their views around violence and the support available to them on keeping their child safe.
There were also two elements to this engagement exercise;
Online survey – 96 parents and carers shared their views and concerns via an online survey.
Targeted face to face workshops – 59 parents and carers, whose child(ren) had been directly affected by violence, attended face to face workshops held by Chit Chat 4 U.
Key findings from the online engagement exercise include:
- 46% of parents and carers stated Knife Crime/ carrying an offensive weapons was their top concern;
- Out of 58 respondents who said they had looked for help/support on how to keep their child safe, 66% said they were not able to find help and support easily;
- 67% said education/training on topics would help them to feel more confident in starting a conversation with their child;
- 83% said they would like to receive up to date information on how to keep their child safe.
Read the full report on Parents and Carers Views on Community Safety and Help and Support available to them 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.
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