Mayor’s VRU receives £1.5m funding boost for summer youth safety in London
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced nearly £1.5 million in additional funding through his Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), to deliver “hundreds of diversionary activities aimed at keeping young people safe over the summer.”
Building on the VRU and London United partnership that the Mayor announced in October, the new Premier League Kicks partnership work will “continue to create vital safe spaces and provide targeted support for young Londoners,” said City Hall, which added that delivery during the summer is “crucial” as evidence shows that young people are “more vulnerable to exploitation and violence during this period.” This, it said, is why the Mayor has made investing in young people a priority, “ensuring they have access to food and to activities and support to keep them safe in the holidays.”
The announcement marks a “significant expansion” of youth safety plans for the capital during the summer holidays, with a new year-long partnership between London’s VRU, the Premier League, and eleven professional football club charities in the capital.
City Hall says that the reach of professional football clubs will be used to support young people through sport, mentoring, and employability activities aimed at “strengthening community relationships and reducing young people’s risk of involvement in violence and exploitation.”
The partnership will also be backed by nearly £700,000 in investment across the VRU, the Premier League via the Premier League Foundation, and London United, which represents the charities of all professional football clubs in the capital. They will work with the VRU to provide positive opportunities for young people during the “crucial” holiday period.
“My mission is to ensure London is the safest and best city in the world for young people to grow up in, offering them the same support and opportunities this city gave to me,” Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said. “I am incredibly proud that my Violence Reduction Unit has joined forces with the Premier League and London’s football club charities to scale up activities and positive opportunities for young people this summer.
What do you think is the best way to keep young people engaged and safe during the summer holidays? Share your thoughts in the comments and read more London news at EyeOnLondon.
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