Social Switch Extension

The Social Switch Project, previously approved via DMPC Decision Paper PCD 945, will be extended for six months whilst the VRU assesses the evidence and writes a new specification for a digital learning and positive attitude/behaviours programme for publication later in the fiscal year 2022-2023.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to approve a variation to the current grant awarded to Social Switch of £116,875 funded via 2022/23 VRU Mayoral core funding.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The Social Switch Project aims to switch the narrative on how social media’s relationship to youth violence is understood, tackled and solved.

1.2. Catch22’s extensive research in the area has been combined with Redthread’s expertise in delivering youth violence interventions, to develop a programme that offers training for frontline practitioners to enable them to challenge negative online behaviour as well as a specific programme to support young people into sustainable digital careers.

1.3. The Social Switch Project aims are to:

• Ensure practitioners are better able to support young people in navigating the risks and opportunities of the online world

• Enable young people channel their creative skills towards positive outcomes and/or employment and

• To encourage young people use social media safely and positively

1.4 Core delivery elements

• Equipping frontline practitioners with the skills and means to support and challenge young people who may be at risk of exposure to youth violence online (and offline)

• Supporting young people who may be at risk of exposure to violence to live pro-social and harm free lives, by training them for future careers in social media.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. Due to late notice of continued funding, the VRU has only just been able to secure bridge funding for this programme. Due to its success, the bridge funding will extend the commissioned provider for a period of 6 months whilst the VRU explores recommissioning the programme for a further 2-3 years with an open tender process.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The VRU’s Mayoral core funding available for commissioning expenditure in 2022/23 amounts to £3.7m. The £116,875 cost to extend the Social Switch project is included within the VRU’s 2022/23 budget.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 or above. As well as the strategy for the award.

4.2. Paragraph 4.13 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all requests to go out to tender for contracts of £500,000 or above.

4.3. The Mayor's Office for Policing Crime is a contracting authority as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations"). All awards of public contracts for goods and/or services valued at £181,302 or above will be procured in accordance with the Regulations.

5. Public Health Approach

5.1. London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is taking a public health approach to violence reduction, that is contextual; looking at the context and influences that impact on individuals at significant points in their life.

5.2. The key areas which are being focussed on as part of this approach are:

 Children and Young People – reducing Adverse Childhood Experiences and building resilience.

 Wellbeing and achievement in schools - Institutions providing responsible leadership; London partners having mutual accountability to invest in what works

6. GDPR and Data Privacy

6.1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.

6.2. The existing programme has followed GDPR and Data Privacy guidance and will continue to adhere to these.

7. Equality Comments

7.1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

7.2. All programmes being extended have had initial screening around equality impact and it was established that a full EQIA was not required.

7.3. The VRU, along with MOPAC, have commissioned EDI consultants to work with the teams to develop training, awareness and recommendations for future work programme and action plan developments to ensure the VRU are developing their equality, diversity and inclusion work practices as much as possible going forward. For both the team and stakeholders, as well as for the Londoners we serve.

8. Background/supporting papers

8.1. From the Social Switch Impact Report:

8.2. Strand 1: We have successfully delivered our Digital Youth Work training to 468 practitioners working with young people. This was achieved over 26 sessions, including three bespoke sessions for police, two for teaching professionals and one for practitioners working with young people in a healthcare setting.

8.3. Of the 112 practitioners who gave feedback on all session types of the training in Strand 1:

• 97% had increased understanding of social media and how young people engage with it

• 84% had increased understanding of the safeguarding risks associated with social media usage

• 95% had increased understanding of how to support young people to make valuable contributions online

• 91% had increased understanding of best practice for working professionally with young people online

• 94% were more aware of the opportunities of social media and where to go to for more support (measured

• for standard sessions only)



8.4 Strand 2: We have successfully delivered our Digital Skills and Pre-employability training to 21 young people, delivered over two cohorts.

• Of the 17 young people who gave feedback on Strand 2:

• All but 1 person felt the training had a positive impact on their skills development (1 person felt it had neither a positive nor negative impact)

• Across both cohorts who took part in the training, there were improvements against every outcome indicator measured:

• 22% average increase in Job Skills and Experience 33% average increase in Aspiration and Motivation

• 27% average increase in Job Search Skills 23% average increase in Stability

• 15% average increase in Digital Skills 8% average increase in Workplace and Social Skills

• 25% average increase in Health and Wellbeing

8.5 Strand 3: 40 young people were interviewed from schools, NCS and other youth services on their perception of ‘acceptable use’ as well as insight captured from tech companies, safeguarding professionals, and frontline delivery staff for our research report.