Community Sports
Sport, and physical activity reaches a number of young people each year across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. For many young people taking part helps them feel more confident, connected to their community and feel safer.
The Violence Reduction Network seeks to support the community sports sector to utilise the evidence base to reduce the risk and likelihood of young people being affected by violence.
What does the evidence say?
The Youth Endowment Fund believes that no child should be affected by violence.
They research violence to understand it; they find, fund and test what works to prevent it. By evaluating programmes across England and Wales — from mentoring in schools, to therapy in communities, to different types of policing — we find what works to prevent violence. We get behind interventions that are supported by robust research, evaluations and advice. We do not guess or assume what works. We test it, prove it and encourage others to use it. The YEF Toolkit is the largest resource of violence interventions in the world. Sports programmes are ranked as having high impact to reduce violence.
More than just sport
To work in the space of reducing crime and violence the approach taken will differ from mainstream sports. As a coach in these session you take on the role of a trusted adult, it requires an enhanced level of understanding of vulnerability and how to take trauma informed safe approaches to supporting children.
As a violence reduction network we value the work community sports providers do in playing a part in reducing crime and violence. We have established a sports network to support the sector.
The network aims to:
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Empower everyone to play their role in keeping children, young people and communities safe from violence.
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Facilitate two-way conversation and collaboration.
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Share relevant information and developments relating to violence prevention and seek insights from members to inform design and delivery of local initiatives.
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Ensure VRN resources and tools are promoted and made accessible to the Network including available learning and development opportunities.
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Promote support, connection and collaboration between the VRN team and members of the network.
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Develop opportunities and secure positive change for children, young people and communities affected by violence.
