VRU Evidence Hub

The VRU’s custody-based interventions (Divert and Engage) sit outside of the criminal justice system. The programme embeds youth workers into police custody to support young people at a time of crisis. MOPAC Evidence and Insight Unit are delivering an impact evaluation of the Divert service.

The VRU's Hospital Based Youth Work programme provides clinically embedded youth workers to engage with young people impacted by violence or exploitation presenting at Major Trauma Centres and Accident & Emergency Departments across London. This midline evaluation of the programme was carried out by MOPAC Evidence & Insight, considering implementation and exploring practitioner and service user perceptions of the service.

IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) is a GP based, domestic abuse training support and referral programme run in 8 London boroughs. This evaluation report explores implementation of the programme, with focus on the initial three boroughs to mobilise.

The VRU's Maia & Lift programme provides community-based safe spaces, mentoring and skills support for young women and girls aged between 9-25 years old. The programme developed practice-led approaches including trauma-informed, gender-informed, culturally-aware and strengths based. This report provides an evaluation of the pilot programme.

The VRU's flagship 'MyEnds' programme implements a hyper-local and community-led approach to violence reduction in neighbourhoods affected by high and sustained levels of violence. This evaluation report explores implementation and impact of the programme between 2021-2023.

Two research projects to better understand the links between online social media content and offline violence, and engage with young people to identify strategic opportunities for prevention.

The Bambu Project aims to provide trauma-informed, early intervention support for children and young people (CYP) impacted by domestic abuse. It does this through direct one-to-one support and multiagency work, improving the system of support around the child. The process and impact evaluation is carried out by Cordis Bright.

The 'Therapeutic Intervention for Peace' project is a codeveloped and culturally sensitive model of partnership work, aiming to reduce interpersonal youth violence. This End of Programme Report explores process and outcomes and was undertaken by Power The Fight, the primary delivery partner.

The 'Your Choice' programme provides Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training for youth practitioners, supporting young people (11-17) assessed as having at risk due to extra-familial harm. The evaluation report presents interim findings from the Randomised Controlled Trial.