Young People Leading Change Through Research and Social Action
Young people across Leicester are helping shape stronger, safer communities through the Peer Action Collective (PAC), a ground-breaking programme that puts their voices at the heart of violence prevention and community change.
The Violence Reduction Network (VRN) has been successful in securing funding from the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) and the #iwill Fund (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) to become one of just four delivery partners in the national Peer Action Collective (PAC) project. Delivered in Leicester between September 2025 and September 2027, PAC supports young people to investigate the underlying factors that contribute to youth violence and to develop social action projects that drive positive change within their communities.
The project is delivered through a partnership between the VRN, Young Leicestershire, St Matthews Big Local, Team Hub and Leicestershire Police, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring young people can live lives free from violence and have opportunities to influence positive change.
Over the past year, twelve PAC Leads have completed specialist training in peer research, leadership and team development before conducting research with 88 children and young people across East and West Leicester. Together, they explored an important question:
"How can Police and Children and Young People build better communication and trust within neighbourhoods?"
The findings report has been published and presented directly to Chief and Senior Officers within Leicestershire Police. Police leaders have welcomed the findings and are committed to supporting the PAC Leads to ensure these translate into tangible change.
The work demonstrates the power of listening to young people and bringing communities and organisations together to tackle issues of joint concern. By creating opportunities for children and young people to share their experiences, shape services and influence decision-making, the programme supports the VRN's core principle that everyone has a role to play in preventing violence.
The programme is now moving into its social action phase. Building on the research findings, 25 Changemakers have been recruited to design and deliver projects that address the issues identified by young people. A further 70 Social Action Participants will be recruited to support delivery, helping to create stronger connections between young people, trusted adults, policing and other local organisations.
Grace Strong, Director of Prevention, said: "PAC is gold standard youth involvement. It has provided young people with employment opportunities and high-quality training so they can undertake research and social action projects with their peers. It is proving to be a powerful approach.
Our talented PAC leads have now produced high-quality research which I am confident will create positive change across policing due to the determination and energy of the team and the clear commitment of Chief and Senior officers to this project."
Assistant Chief Constable James Avery, Leicestershire Police, said: “It is a privilege to be involved with the PAC and it has been particularly rewarding to observe how the PAC leaders have worked alongside policing to both improve their understanding but most importantly, to provide candid challenge and feedback. I have been particularly impressed by their energy and motivations to be involved, commonly driven by their personal experiences of policing. Having the PAC leads present at the Executive Meeting for Leicestershire Police was a particular milestone and demonstrates the importance we place on their work.
The initial findings are insightful and thought provoking. I am confident that they will provide the foundation for meaningful change for the benefit of children and young people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. I commend the PAC leads for the work they have done so far, and they should be extremely proud of the difference that they are making.”
Alongside the research and social action activities, the programme has already helped strengthen relationships across communities through events including a rounders tournament and residential experiences with young people from other PAC delivery partners across the country. These opportunities have enabled young people to build confidence, develop leadership skills and contribute positively to their communities.
Ebony, PAC Lead, said: “Playing rounders with the police was a fun way to build positive relationships and get to know the officers outside of a formal setting. Changemakers induction week was a great and fun experience to meet the new changemakers and think about how we can create positive change.”
As the programme continues, the VRN team is encouraging organisations, community groups, schools and stakeholders to support the next phase of the project by sharing the upcoming survey with their young people. This survey will help gather further insights to inform future research and action.
Levi Knight, Youth Action Lead at Young Leicestershire, said: "The PAC Project has been such a great journey so far and I am really grateful to be a part of it! The PAC Leads have progressed and developed so much since day one! Watching them take ownership of making the change they want to see in local communities, at a relatively young age, has been amazing and inspiring. The PAC Project has been brilliant in the way it has given an opportunity to young people to make a real lasting change in the communities they live."
By placing young people's experiences and perspectives at the heart of research and social action, the Peer Action Collective is helping ensure that children and young people are actively involved in shaping stronger, safer communities. As the programme progresses, PAC will continue to bring together young people, policing, community organisations and local partners to turn research findings into meaningful social action and opportunities for positive change.