Support for vulnerable young people in serious violence hotspots

The targeted support, backed by £30 million, is a part of a rollout of 10 ‘SAFE’ (Support, Attend, Fulfil, Exceed) taskforces in ‘hotspot’ areas, where incidents of serious youth violence are highest. These will be led by local schools, bringing headteachers together to support vulnerable young people, and avoid them becoming involved in county lines and criminal activity.

The investment will help focus on improving pupils’ attendance, reducing the likelihood of young people being permanently excluded from school, keeping young people focused on their education.

Children and Families Minister Will Quince said:

Keeping young people engaged with their education has never been more important. These taskforces are helping school leaders and vital support services work together to support some of the most vulnerable young people across the country, helping to keep them on the right track and stop them missing lessons.

Through the work of these taskforces, combined with our ongoing SEND Review, the independent review of children’s social care, and our investment in Alternative Provision and other specialist support, this government is levelling up opportunities for all young people to help fulfil their potential and achieve better outcomes.

The government have also today announced the 22 schools benefitting from Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforces, which work directly with young people in Alternative Provision settings to offer intensive support from experts, including mental health professionals, family workers, and speech and language therapists. Bringing this wider range of professionals together aims to reduce the risk to these pupils of being exploited and entering a life of crime, and helping them move into further education, employment or training after they finish school.

Areas benefitting from a SAFE Taskforce

Birmingham

Newham

Manchester

Lambeth

Leeds

Southwark

Sheffield

Bradford

Liverpool

Haringey

Alternative Provision Settings benefitting from AP Specialist Taskforces

Bradford AP Academy Centre, Bradford

Haringey Learning Partnership, Haringey

Manchester Secondary PRU, Manchester

Orchardside School, Enfield

Saffron Valley Collegiate, Croydon

Sandwell Community School, Sandwell

Snowdon Village (Bristol Future’s Academy), Bristol

Southwark Inclusive Learning Service (SILS), Southwark

Stephen Longfellow Academy, Leeds

Tunmarsh School, Newham

Unity Academy, Nottingham

St Wilfrid’s Academy, Doncaster

Park Campus Academy, Lambeth

Brent River College, Brent

City of Birmingham School, Birmingham

Ealing Alternative Provision (EAP), Ealing

Everton Free School, Liverpool

Leicester Partnership School, Leicester

London East AP, Tower Hamlets

DfE enquiries

Central newsdesk - for journalists 020 7783 8300

General enquiries - for members of the public 0370 000 2288