Stronger Futures

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Stronger Futures is the VRU's flagship after-school programme.

Evidence shows that violence affecting young people is most likely to happen between 3pm and 10pm on a school day, and these hours are a lost opportunity in deterring young people from being exposed to criminal exploitation.

Stronger Futures delivers prevention and early intervention work with up to 3,000 young people aged between 10-18 during these hours who may be at risk of violence, exploitation or grooming.

The VRU has invested in 18 targeted projects being delivered across 25 boroughs that are working with young people after school and at weekends, to improve educational outcomes and reduce school exclusions, as well as to improve employability prospects and mental health and wellbeing.

A strong focus of all projects is on mentoring, in recognition of the importance of a role model in a young person’s life. Youth workers are delivering one-to-one mentoring sessions with young people to focus on decision-making, conflict resolution and how to access positive opportunities.

The programme is also delivering dedicated, tailored support for young women and girls as research suggests the needs of young women are not always met in the same way as they are for boys.

The VRU is working with delivery partners, Rocket Science, Action for Race Equality and Renaisi, who listened to community-led organisations to understand and remove the barriers to their applying for support.

The following 18 organisations have been awarded:

The Safety Box – Ealing

Reaching Higher- Croydon

Skyway Charity – Hackney

Barking and Dagenham Council for Voluntary service – Barking and Dagenham

High Trees Community Development Trust – Lambeth

Newham All Star Sports Academy – Newham

Somali Youth Development Resource Centre- Camden

Waltham Forest Community Hub Ltd – Waltham Forest

Youth Action Alliance – Kensington and Chelsea

Football Beyond Borders – Lambeth

The Violence Intervention Project – Hammersmith and Fulham