Introduction

This guidance sets out eight evidence-based recommendations to help prevent 10-17-year- olds1 from becoming involved in violence. It emphasises getting the right focus on vulnerable children and young people and high-risk contexts, funding approaches that work, and laying strong foundations for high-quality youth work.

It is primarily written for local funders and commissioners of youth work in England and Wales – such as local authorities, Violence Reduction Units (VRUs), and housing associations– whose decisions shape the local youth work system.

This guidance is also relevant to philanthropic funders, who can use it to align their grants with evidence, and youth workers, who can use it to inform service design and advocate for the conditions they need to deliver high-quality support.

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