VRU serious violence school and College toolkit

The VRU has continued to focus on supporting young people with mental health and emotional needs over this year . The work has included creating the Serious Violence Toolkit to support schools in becoming trauma informed and how they can take a public health approach by understanding root causes of violence and violent behaviours which can lead to disengagement from education. 

The VRU designed the toolkit in consultation with educational psychologists, the two Local Authorities and education sector representatives. The toolkit provides a summary of emerging practice from across the country and includes the work currently being delivered or planned within the County. The toolkit supports the work to create trauma-informed practice in the education sector through the sharing of resources and toolkits which allow senior leaders to understand how to become a trauma-informed school or college.

The VRU have provided leadership and support to grow the trauma informed work across partners, and with the education sector in particular.

A VRU Director chairs the Supporting People With Adverse Childhood Experiences (SPACE Matters) program which, in collaboration with Kent County Council’s Public Health service, is a collaborative project across Kent and Medway to prevent and reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The network has been able to create a network of local ACE Ambassadors who build local trauma-informed networks, and a framework for services to use to evaluate their journey to becoming trauma informed.

The VRU are also co-funding trauma informed education with Medway Council.

You can find this toolkit in our resources section or contact the VRU to have it sent via email to you.