What does a public health response to youth violence look like in practice?

What does a public health response to youth violence look like in practice?

In this video, Kimberley Campbell-Lamb, Head of Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit examines how local organisations can effectively respond to violence in their localities. Then Samira-Caterina Monteleone offers a helpful critique around how professional organisations can work more effectively with communities.

Talking Points

This video looks at:

• How organisations can best engage with the public (and politicians)
• What professionals need to focus on to meaningfully and inclusively engage communities (including young people) in these issues
• The key mistakes professionals make when working in this field
• The factors that contribute to violence operate in dynamic relation with one another, and what that means for Violence Reduction Units and single agencies trying to address violence
• What can help local agencies to move to a longer-term and more systemic view of violence reduction
• How local leaders and practitioners can work in a way that is ethical and equalities-aware

Related resources

• Crime and Security Research Institute. The Cardiff Model. Cardiff University
• Williams, P. (2018) Being Matrixed: The (Over) Policing of Gang Suspects in London. Stopwatch
• Ortiz, S. (2019) Language that cares: Changing the way professionals talk about Children in Care. TACT Fostering and Adoption
• Ladder of Citizen Participation. Organizing Engagement

Related Research in Practice resources

• Fraser, A. and Irwin-Rogers, K. (2021). A public health approach to violence reduction: Strategic Briefing. Dartington: Research in Practice.
• Irwin-Rogers, K, Fraser, A & Holmes, D. (2021). A public health approach to reducing violence . Dartington: Research in Practice.
• (2020). Community capacity and co-production – building a shared future: Leaders’ Forum 2020. Dartington: Research in Practice.
• Tjoa, P. (2021). Growing community capacity: Strategic Briefing. Dartington: Research in Practice
• Tackling Child Exploitation (TCE) Support Programme (2021). Dartington: Research in Practice.
• Anon (2020). A sister's experience of county lines. Dartington: Research in Practice
• Various (2020). Towards a fairer future – addressing inequality in recovery: Leaders’ Forum 2020. Dartington: Research in Practice

Reflective questions

Here are reflective questions to stimulate conversation and support practice. 

1. How can you and your organisation effectively respond to issues in a complex environment?
2. How do you apply an equalities lens when working with youth violence, and how does it influence your approach?
3. What steps can you and organisation take to better work with communities?
4. How can you tailor your messages around this topic when working with politicians?