Leicestershire Cares are launching a new rapid project investigating the issues around violence within the care experienced community.
The project will take into account care experienced young people (CEYP) adverse experiences and work alongside them to identify their own solutions to avoiding violence and create pathways to recovery and a life free from violence. The young people will produce an advice leaflet drawing on their lived experiences and new knowledge acquired from taking part in the project. The leaflet will be distributed throughout the care experieced community.
The project is funded by the Police & Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire’s Violence Reduction Network and reflects the recommendations of the Youth Violence Commission Report 2020, which promotes a public health approach to violence reduction.
The East Midlands has seen serious youth violence offences increase by 250 in 2018/19, with more than a quarter of a million pounds extra being spent on health costs from serious youth violence (Youth Violence Commission Report 2020).
Care experienced young people are some of the most vulnerable members of society. They have often suffered traumatic events – including violence – which have led to them being placed in care, and lack the family support networks that others might take for granted to help heal and recover.
A large number of CEYP live in a chaotic environment where violence is frequently witnessed throughout their lives – from their family, peer violence in children homes, and violence associated with the most vulnerable in society, such as gang related violence, sexual and criminal exploitation. CEYP are also overrepresented in the criminal justice system which then can lead to further experiences of violent situations, as a victim and/or perpetrator (In Care, Out of Trouble An independent review chaired by Lord Laming 2016).
Leicestershire Cares has been working with care experienced young people (CEYP), including unaccompanied asylum seeking minors (UASC) for over 10 years, successfully supporting them to achieve their potential in life, including employment, wellbeing, housing and giving them a voice to speak out about the issues that affect them. Our leaving care team has a sound understanding of the issues which affect CEYP and UASC and adopt participatory methods in working with young people to enable them to identify and address the barriers preventing them from reaching their goals.
For more information about the project contact
Jacob Brown
VOICES Development Officer
jacob@leicestershirecares.co.uk
Find out more about the work we do with care experienced young people