Partnership projects

The Sussex Violence Reduction Partnership supports a range of projects designed to protect vulnerable young people, improve the opportunities open to them and reduce their risk of becoming involved in serious violence.

With the help of funding from the Home Office and partner organisations, grass-roots, community-based projects are being financed and supported across Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.

Local violence reduction partnerships in each area provide the local knowledge, contacts and experience to bring the right partners together and target services effectively.​

Brighton & Hove

  1. Brighton Streets, age range 11-19, delivered by The Trust for Developing Communities - Providing street-based detached Youth work and contextual safeguards to protect vulnerable young people as part of its mission to provide innovative responses to youth violence. 
  2. WBC Cares - Youth Boxing Sessions & Mentoring, age range under 18. - Sports-based diversionary activity and mentoring   for children and young people. This intervention is a second-tier preventative Sports Programme, targeting those in both Pupil Referral Units and the Youth Offending Service, available to young people at risk of exclusion. 
  3. Hospital Youthwork Project, age range 12-18, delivered by The Trust for Developing Communities - An A&E Navigator Programme delivered on-site at the Children’s A&E unit of the Royal Alexandria Children’s Hospital. The aim of this project is to ensure that, during Youth Worker working hours, all CYP aged 13-16 attending the CED are screened for potentially concerning presentations (particularly those with injuries, alcohol & drug intoxication, or concerns regarding mental or emotional wellbeing) and those requiring additional support directed to appropriate services. Outside of the YW working hours, CED staff will be able to consent CYP for referral to the YW service.
  4. Focussed Deterrence Officer, age range 12-18, delivered by Brighton & Hove City Council - This officer will deliver a focussed deterrence intervention targeted at children who have been identified as at risk of perpetrating serious violence by local partners. 

East Sussex

  1. Whole systems approach to child exploitation, age range 11-18, delivered by East Sussex County Council Children's Services - SAFER keyworkers will provide intensive and consistent support to children and families:
    • Direct, school-based support to children at risk of repeat suspension and exclusion.
    • Social skills training
    • Supporting children to access positive and diversionary activities in their local communities.
    • Support to access specialist professionals through designated pathways.
    • Practical interventions to support existing statutory provision.
    • Supporting parents/carers.                                                                
  2. Knife Carriers Programme, age range 12-18, delivered by Sussex Police, Youth Offending Team, East Sussex Children's Services, Probation - A targeted prevention project with two elements:
1. Effective Interventions – Knife Crime Matrix and Programme
2. Contextual or Placed Based responses.       

West Sussex

  1. Focussed Deterrence - Connect, age range 10-18, delivered by West Sussex County Council - The Connect programme is a new focussed deterrence intervention targeted at children aged 10-18 who have been identified as habitual knife carriers via the Sussex Police HKC matrix.                             
  2. Custody Navigator Programme, age range 10-18, delivered by West Sussex County Council - The custody navigators will provide support for young people at a ‘reachable, teachable’ moment and this can then be progressed to when they leave and into the community. Being in custody is recognised as a timepoint when the otherwise hard to reach demographic are away from their usual environment and are potentially more willing to engage with offers of support. 
  3. Peer Group Conference, age range 8-18, delivered by West Sussex County Council - The central purpose is to identify the places and spaces where extrafamilial harm is occurring and to develop shared plans to reduce the risks in those locations. They also capture emerging peer groups of concern and work to identify and support these. Partners will work together to develop a shared plan to reduce risks and provide interventions to offer diversion, mentoring and access to support.