£1m funding-boost is set to further support the work of vital programmes which are helping to tackle serious violence across Greater Manchester. This will enable Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to understand more about the strengths and needs of different communities across Greater Manchester to keep driving serious violence down.
The funding will be split equally across all 10 boroughs of the city-region, supporting sustainable solutions to reduce serious violence, led by communities. Working with local organisations to understand their neighbourhoods and tackle issues as source, is crucial to the success of the programmes.
Thanks to Greater Manchester’s partnership response to tackling serious violence, figures released earlier this year highlighted significant reductions in hospital admissions due to assault by a sharp object, and homicides involving a knife. Through the community-led programmes, over 10,000+ young people have been involved in universal activity from youth groups, schools, and colleges, and over 1,000 longer term bespoke interventions have been provided to individuals, and in some cases, their wider families.
A community-led approach to reducing violence means the VRU works closely with communities to understand the strengths, challenges and needs of the community and determine how local investments will be made.
The VRU has already invested £1.6 million in community-led programmes, outlined in Greater Manchester’s Serious Violence Action Plan.
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for policing, crime, criminal justice, and fire said: “This extra funding is crucial to delivering on our commitment to communities across our city-region to reduce violence and provide positive alternatives for young people and families.
“As part of the community-led programmes, there are numerous organisations across Greater Manchester doing vital work to keep people away from violence, offering people a positive alternative, and I’m delighted that this work is being recognised with extra funding.”
