'My Ends' programme funds communities fighting back against violence

“This part of London Road has long been known as Croydon’s ‘crime-capital’” says Steve Phaure who runs Croydon Voluntary Action, a charity working to prevent violence. “But it’s also the gateway to our town centre, an exciting cultural quarter and home to a strong, grassroots sector.”

It’s a challenge in many parts of London. Vibrant areas that experience violence.

Across many of London’s 32 Boroughs, at neighbourhood level, violence blights the lives of families in some communities. That is why in 2018, the Mayor created the Violence Reduction Unit, tasked with the job of leading and coordinating violence prevention.

Our research has shown that the most effective way to prevent violence in these areas is to provide leaders from these communities with resources to enhance prevention measures. For example, to fund things like mentoring for young people, parent support, youth work, training for young people dealing with trauma and mental health and community leadership programmes for local residents and that work is being delivered through our My Ends programme.

In February 2021, Sadiq Khan announced £6million of investment for community groups to bid for. We know that prevention is most effective when decision making comes from within local communities. In many places, projects that are already in place need funding to increase their ability to respond. In other places, funding can help communities to fund services that have worked well elsewhere but are not yet up and running in their area.

My Ends supports community-led organisations such as Croydon Voluntary Action - who have teamed up with other community leaders, organisations and public service providers – to bid for up to £750,000 in funding to support violence prevention measures. Each successful community consortia will receive up to £750,000 funding to April 2023.

Over 31 consortia from across London applied and successful bids have been awarded to local groups in eight London Boroughs, including Brent, Croydon, Hackney, Haringey, Lambeth, Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

Following the announcement of successful bids, Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said “I was really impressed with the high calibre of applications, particularly the passion, commitment and drive there is amongst community groups to really get to grips with tackling violence.



“We know that violence knows no border, and it’s not focused on an entire borough. Instead it tends to be localised in neighbourhoods or even in small pockets of roads. Experience tells us that it’s often local people who know what’s best for improving the area they live and work in, and that’s why we’re supporting local people and local communities to help bring about change and provide better opportunities for young people”.