The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Knife Crime & Violence Reduction is a group of over 70 MPs and Peers, set up in response to the alarming rise in knife crime across the country. The group aims to develop cross-party consensus from parliamentarians around new approaches to tackling knife crime, with particular focus on prevention and early intervention.

The APPG seeks to evaluate policies and programmes aimed at reducing knife crime, gain better understanding of its root causes and the wider context of serious violence. The group aims to develop recommendations for new measures at both acute and preventative stages with a view to reducing levels of knife crime, and work with the cross-party Youth Violence Commission

British Future is an independent, non-partisan think tank seeking to involve people in an open conversation, which addresses people’s hopes and fears about identity and integration, migration and opportunity, so that we feel confident about Britain’s Future.

We want to ensure that we engage those who are anxious about cultural identity and economic opportunity in Britain today, as well as those who already feel confident about our society, so that we can together identify workable solutions to make Britain the country we want to live in.

Business in the Community is the oldest and largest business-led membership organisation dedicated to responsible business.

What we do:

We inspire, engage and challenge members and we mobilise that collective strength as a force for good in society to:

• Create a skilled, inclusive workforce today and for the future

• Build thriving communities in which to live and work

• Innovate to repair and sustain our planet

The Office of the Children's Commissioner for England is a non-departmental public body in England responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of children as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as other human rights legislation, such as the Human Rights Act 1998. The Children's Commissioner was established under the Children Act 2004 to "represent the views and interests of children", and the office was further strengthened by the Children and Families Act 2014 providing a legal mandate to promote and protect the rights of children. The Children's Commissioner also has a duty to speak on behalf of all children in the United Kingdom on non-devolved issues, which include immigration, and youth justice in Wales.

CTIB drives commitment by each church and denomination to deepen its fellowship with the others and, without losing what makes each interestingly different, to work with them towards a greater visible unity.

To help the churches live as Churches Together, a number of small organisations have been created to ease their way. There is one in almost every town or community to help them to work together locally. There are others in the regions and for each of the four nations of Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England. And there is Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

Many areas of work are best tackled for Britain and Ireland as a whole, rather than in the separate nations. It is also important for those  involved in similar activities in different parts of Britain and Ireland to keep in touch even when working separately. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland is the instrument that facilitates that process.

Citizens UK organises communities to act together for power, social justice and the common good.

We are the home of community organising in the UK. Our diverse member organisations include schools, churches, mosques, synagogues, parents groups, health practices, charities and trade unions.

We help these members to develop leaders, so they can participate in public life and hold politicians and other decision-makers to account on the issues that matter to them.

Community organising is democracy in action: winning victories that change lives and transform communities.

Our vision is for a healthy democracy with civil society at its heart.

Community Organising is based on the principle that when people work together they have the power to change their neighbourhoods, cities, and ultimately the country for the better. We work with people who want to transform the world, from what it is to what they believe it should be. To do this we listen to our members, asking them about their concerns and developing strategies to improve our communities. We ensure that civil society is at the negotiating table alongside the market and state, so that our communities are included in the decisions that affect them.

The Citizenship Foundation inspires young people to take part in society as equal members.

We help them to understand the law, politics and democratic life. We promote participation, we help teachers to teach citizenship and we work with young people on issues that concern them.

We want society to be fairer, more inclusive and more cohesive.

We want a democracy in which everyone has the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take part as effective citizens.

We are a charity that exists to give everyone the equal chance to change the future.

Imagine a society where everyone reaches their full potential. Where the future is not defined by the past or determined by the place a person starts.

Based in East London, we are a charity working with young people, women and families to give them the skills, experience and qualifications they need to achieve their ambitions. And through what we do, we help change society.

All children deserve the best possible start in life. Too many children face the kind of disadvantage that affects their development and threatens their future health and happiness. Early intervention can play a part in offering these children and their families the support they need to reach their potential.

“The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life. Our vision is a society in which women and girls in all their diversity are equal and truly free to fulfil their potential creating a stronger, happier, better future for us all. We’ve been advancing women’s equality since 1866 when at just 19, Millicent Fawcett collected signatures on a petition for women’s votes. She went on to lead the constitutional suffrage campaign and made this cause her lifetime’s work, securing equal voting rights 62 years later. Today we continue her legacy of fighting sexism and gender inequality through hard-hitting research. Our national campaigns shape the debate and drive change - and they are only made possible through the support of our members.”

We make maps that help direct aid.

We have a passion and vision to inspire and support long-term sustainable development by mapping the gaps in self-empowering opportunities for people at the ground level, so that international donors, development NGOs and government agencies can clearly see where they need to put their energies.

Global MapAid or simply "MapAid" is a social enterprise working with local people, to help them identify & map local solutions (hotspots) for their development, to help prevent disasters. The maps benefit policy makers, donors, non-government organisations and corporate social responsibility organisations, by focusing efforts where most needed. Additionally, some of our maps are designed for use by vulnerable people.

Imkaan is a UK-based, Black feminist organisation. We are the only national second-tier women’s organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls i.e. women and girls which are defined in policy terms as Black and ‘Minority Ethnic’ (BME). The organisation holds nearly two decades of experience of working around issues such as domestic violence, forced marriage and ‘honour-based’ violence. We work at local, national and international level, and in partnership with a range of organisations, to improve policy and practice responses to Black and minoritised women and girls. Imkaan works with its members to represent the expertise and perspectives of frontline, specialist and dedicated Black and minoritised women’s organisations that work to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. Imkaan delivers a unique package of support which includes: quality assurance; accredited training and peer education; sustainability support to frontline Black and minoritised organisations; and facilitation of space for community engagement and development. Our research activities support the ongoing development of a robust evidence base around the needs and aspirations of Black and minoritised women and girls, as well as promising practice approaches to addressing violence. Imkaan is at the forefront of programmes and initiatives relating to forms of violence that disproportionately affect Black and minoritised women and girls.

Lankelly Chase has a vision, shared by many, of a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a rewarding life. We believe that we’ve all got a shared humanity and given the right conditions, everyone can thrive.

As an independent foundation we’re working in partnership with people, across the UK, to change the systems that perpetuate severe and multiple disadvantage. Our mission is to get to a place where people want to, know how to and are free to create systems that are effective in responding to the interlocking nature of severe disadvantages such as homelessness, drug misuse, violence and abuse and mental ill health.

Leaders Unlocked enables young people and underrepresented groups to have a stronger voice on the issues that affect their lives.

Our three main areas of concern:
Leaders Unlocked has been working in the education sector since our inception. Our work aims to develop student voice, leadership and social action within education institutions and the wider communities they serve.

Leaders Unlocked has been working in the Health sector since 2016. Our work enables young people to play a leadership role influencing strategic decisions, provision and research in relation to young people's health and well-being.

Leaders Unlocked has been working in the Criminal Justice sector since 2016. Our work gives young adults and service users a stronger voice on criminal justice reform at the national level.

London Plus facilitates the London CVS Directors Network, which represents organisations providing local infrastructure support to charities and local community groups across the majority of London boroughs.

There are 29 infrastructure organisations in the network who support over 20,000 voluntary and community organisations across London.

Giving support and advice to civil society. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England. It is a registered charity NCVO works to support the voluntary and community sector and to create an environment in which an independent civil society can flourish. NCVO has a membership of more than 14,000 voluntary organisations. These range from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer centres, and development agencies working at a local level.

Youth violence is increasing and the growth in 'county lines' means the effects are being felt in every part of the UK. The National Centre for Gang Research has been established to study youth violence and its causes so we can inform and contribute to the wider responses around the issue.

The New Economics Foundation is a British think tank that promotes "social, economic and environmental justice". NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability".

Research shows that we need to treat violence as a public health issue – as a disease – and not simply a criminal justice issue. Only a holistic approach with a cross fertilisation of specialists from a range of disciplines can tackle the root issues and protect the lives of our children and young people. As a society, we all have a role to play.

The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) believes in a world where everyone is able to participate in creating a better future.

Through our ideas, research and a 30,000 strong Fellowship we are a global community of proactive problem solvers, sharing powerful ideas, carrying out cutting-edge research and building networks and opportunities for people to collaborate, influence and demonstrate practical solutions to realise change.

The RSA has been at the forefront of social change for over 260 years. Today our work focuses on supporting innovation in three major areas: creative learning and development, public services and communities, and economy, enterprise and manufacturing.

Race on the Agenda (ROTA) is one of Britain's leading social policy think tanks focusing on issues that affect Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Originally set up in 1984, ROTA aims to increase the capacity of BAME organisations and strengthen the voice of BAME communities through increased civic engagement and participation in society.

This think-tank has many strands of work, one of which concerns social reform. It has launched its Social Reform programme to overcome the defining political issue of our time: the great divides of wealth and power across the nation. These are driving damaging populist movements in our public life, but they are also having more profound and lasting impacts on families and communities, depriving people in all parts of the country of the chance to flourish. We believe that existing approaches to these challenges have not worked. In the case of economic inequality, the problem has been seen through the wrong end of the lens – as redistribution has been pursued, inequalities in asset ownership have doubled. And strategies to address economic exclusion delivered from the centre have failed to take account of a key determinant: place. At the same time, localism and devolution have been unable to keep up with growing political divisions, and have so far failed to empower people and communities.

Our framework for social reform is based on three strands: Home, Community and Culture. Only a place-based approach focused on assets and delivered with, rather than to, communities will heal the profound divisions in British society. Through our Social Reform programme, ResPublica will provide policy-makers with the insight and tools to do so.

Runnymede is the UK's leading independent race equality think tank. We generate intelligence to challenge race inequality in Britain through research, network building, leading debate, and policy engagement.

Runnymede is working to build a Britain in which all citizens and communities feel valued, enjoy equal opportunities, lead fulfilling lives, and share a common sense of belonging.

In order to effectively overcome racial inequality in our society, we believe that our democratic dialogue, policy, and practice, should all be based on reliable evidence from rigorous research and thorough analysis.

Our authoritative research-based interventions in social policy and practice, and our public engagement with decision makers, will assist policy-makers, practitioners, and citizens, to reduce the risk of our society being blighted by racism and discrimination to the detriment of us all.

The Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice is a leading centre for social justice and human rights. It provides a vibrant environment at the cutting edge of legal and criminal justice practice which prepares students for excellence in their chosen professional career. Fighting Knife Crime London is particular indebted to them for the academic work they are assisting with to develop our website into the most effective tool it can be as a first port of call for those seeking help and offering assistance. Operating in support of the Law and Criminology Department at Sheffield Hallam University, HKC is arguably now the nation’s foremost centre for the teaching of human rights and development of practical research tools.

The centre is home to a range of social justice and human rights activities that include:

• research and scholarship work

• global engagement

• impact on policy

• professional training and advocacy

Its central values are those of widening access to justice and education, the promotion of human rights, ethics in legal practice, equality and a respect for human dignity in overcoming social injustice.

“The law is the bedrock of a nation; it tells us who we are, what we value, who has power and who hasn't.”

Helena Kennedy QC

The Helena Kennedy Centre's scope of expertise covers:

• human rights

• criminology

• law

• policing

• probation

The centre works on the high profile projects in a variety of human rights and social justice areas. Research and projects concern Knife Crime, Modern Day Slavery, gender-based violence, hate crime and many more.‍

a major independent commission to evidence and design a new national system to prevent crisis in vulnerable young people and support them to succeed in life. It launched in September 2021 and is chaired by Anne Longfield CBE, the former Children's Commissioner for England, and hosted by the Oasis Charitable Trust, who have decades of experience of working in and with communities, empowering families and vulnerable children.

Thousands of children in England are growing up living very vulnerable lives. Every year, hundreds of the most vulnerable fall off the radar of the education and social services system, putting them at increased risk of criminal or sexual exploitation and making them more likely to become caught up in the criminal justice system. Their chances of entering adulthood with positive opportunities and choices are low and as adults they are more likely to be seen in our prisons or suffering from serious mental health problems or homelessness. The problem has been growing over recent years but has also been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.

Bringing together experts and working collaboratively with system leaders, the Commission will identify solutions which can transform the outcomes of the most marginalised teenagers who are at risk of violence, harm, criminalisation, and diminished opportunities.

Preventing young people from entering the justice system is in all our interests. That is why we are co-producing a new way to bring hope and success to young people through education and personal support.

The Commission on Young Lives will publish a series of interim reports throughout the year and its final report in Autumn 2022.

This is a very helpful research programme to:

• Explore local young people’s issues relating to carrying of knives and knife crime, including Education, Prevention, Early Intervention, Targeted Support, Deterrence, Disruption and Detection.

• Identify specific factors which young people deemed to facilitate/inhibit involvement in knife crime and knife activity

They were recently awarded £47,528 to deliver in-school presentations around dangers of knife crime to 900 young people followed by targeted workshops and support for 40 young people across four schools in Enfield and Haringey.

Scotland has an excellent record in its approach to knife crime. This website contains a lot of information about resources, initiatives and projects. The work of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit is repeatedly described as a public health approach which was revolutionary at the time. This can often be cited without explanation. A public health approach treats violence as a disease which can infect communities in the same way as a virus and there are four steps to applying this methodology:

1) Define the problem through the systematic collection of information and data

2) Establish the causes of violence and what factors could be changed through intervention

3) Design, implement and evaluate interventions

4) Scale-up effective interventions to have as wide an impact as possible.

Niven Rennie, Director of The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit.

The Social Mobility Commission exists to create a United Kingdom where the circumstances of birth do not determine outcomes in life.  SMC is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Education. Visit this site to see reports on social mobility and what the Government is doing to tackle it.

The Social Switch Project and #switchthestory is switching the narrative on how social media’s relationship to youth violence is understood, tackled and solved. Initially funded by Google.org it is co-delivered by social business Catch22 and youth violence charity Redthread. Recognising our impact, the Mayor of London and its Violence Reduction Unit is now supporting our next phase, backing our work to divert at-risk youth towards fulfilling digital careers.

The principal Governmental Organisation for London is the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)

See too https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mopac_knife_crime_strategy_june_2017.pdf

The work of the VRU as announced by the Mayor in September 2018, is to bring together specialists from health, police, local government, probation and community organisations to tackle violent crime and the underlying causes of violent crime.

“We believe that violence is preventable. The VRU is taking a fundamentally different approach to violence reduction – one where the public sector institutions and communities that make up London act together to help cut violence.

A number of Londoners already have some of the tools they need to tackle violence and its root causes – but many need additional support to help put their time, expertise or skills to best use. The job of the VRU will be to help unlock that potential – by sharing information with Londoners and all partners about what works in spotting the early signs of what might lead to criminal behaviour, and focusing attention and resources on what makes a difference.”

A large number of groups have engaged in discussions with City Hall staff about the Mayor’s work in Violence Reduction. Some are formal members of the Partnership Reference Group, others have participated in more informal discussions. Further details of these groups can be found in the directory listings on this website. Website information for each organisation also appears below where available.                                        

The goals of the Violence Reduction Unit are to:

• Stabilise and reduce violence across London

• Find the major causes of violence and co-ordinate action across London to tackle them at scale, delivering a long term reduction in crime and associated harms

• Involve communities in the work of the VRU and build their capacity to deliver the best long-term solutions to reduce violence.

The iCoCo foundation is dedicated to the promotion of interculturalism and community cohesion. It is a not for profit organisation which challenges old style multiculturalism and promotes new and progressive policy and practice in an era of multi-diverse and globalised societies. (See sections ‘about interculturalism‘ and ‘about community cohesion‘.) The iCoCo foundation has been established by Professor Ted Cantle CBE and follows on from the earlier work which he inspired at the Institute of Community Cohesion. It is a Community Interest Company, limited by guarantee. The ground-breaking Report – known as The ‘Cantle Report’ – was produced in December 2001 and made around 70 recommendations. It also created the concept of ‘parallel lives’ to describe communities that had little in common and had no contact with each other. In so doing, it re-established the importance of ‘contact theory’ as a means of reducing prejudice and improving tolerance and understanding of the ‘other’. This also challenged the multicultural orthodoxy based on essentialised identities and gave birth to the idea of ‘community cohesion’. Community cohesion was subsequently adopted by the UK Government and many of the interventions which it spawned have been used by local communities in this country and around the world. Community cohesion programmes have succeeded in reducing tension in local communities by promoting cross cultural contact, developing support for diversity and promoting unity. Community cohesion also continues to tackle inequality and the prejudice and discrimination which underpins it, whilst interculturalism provides a wider and progressive narrative to replace the outmoded concept of multiculturalism.

United for All Ages is a 'think-do' tank founded in 2010 to create a Britain for all ages, tackling big social and economic issues such as loneliness, ageism, learning, care, health and housing.  Its co-founders and directors are Denise Burke and Stephen Burke. In 2020 United for All Ages celebrated its tenth anniversary.

Connected, thriving communities are the foundation of our society. They keep us safer, happier and healthier – more resilient and able to face shared challenges.

Today, The Young Foundation’s mission is to develop better connected and more sustainable communities across the UK. As a UKRI accredited Independent Research Organisation, social investor and community development practitioner, we combine all our skills and expertise, to further that mission.

We amplify the stories and lived experiences of people in our communities; using this as a spur to drive locally-led community action and enterprise. And we use what we learn across different communities to spot national patterns of need and opportunity. Then we work with national partners to support new ideas to tackle those shared, national challenges.

Bringing together our own – and other people’s – work, we are building a shared body of evidence, tools and insight about how communities are taking action on the issues that affect them. We are experts in understanding the changing role of communities in the 21st century.

Established governmental youth justice resource.