The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has announced a fund worth up to £20m to find out what works to keep children out of the criminal justice system.
It will be funding projects and investing “in rigorous evaluation” by building on knowledge about diversion and helping organisations put it into practice.
The decision follows a four-month consultation with young people with lived experience of violence and the people working to keep them safe. Those conversations made it clear that, as well as diversion, the YEF should invest in support for families, especially where children have experienced violence or instability in their home.
It will open a grant round worth up to £20m in April. Organisations can read their prospectus and sign-up to take part in a workshop.
Jon Yates, executive director of the YEF, said: “As a first step, we’ve committed to ringfence £5m – 10m over the next three years for Black, Asian and minority ethnic-led organisations.
“As our work continues, we’ll carry on listening to you to make sure we do the right thing for the children we’re here to support. We’ll share everything we learn, because we know that evidence is no use if it just stays on the shelf. Together, we can use it to make change happen and keep our children safe."
The YEF is an independent charitable trust with a £200m endowment from the Home Office.
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