Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership

We believe that all communities in #Merseyside have the right to be free from violence to provide the best chances for all. RTs and Likes are not endorsements.

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

🌞Thank you for following and engaging with our work. 🙏

We’ve never been more committed to creating violence‑free communities across Merseyside.

This mission continues, and we’re not slowing down. 💜

But… we’re changing how we share our news 🔊

For all the latest on our events, projects & campaigns, please follow us on our other platforms:
➡️ Facebook
➡️ LinkedIn

Together, we can continue to build a safer, stronger Merseyside. 💛

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

🌟 We’re incredibly proud to share that the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership has been honoured with a Chief Superintendent’s Commendation from Merseyside Police! 🌟

This recognition celebrates the tireless work of our team and partners who are dedicated to preventing serious violence, supporting young people, and building safer, stronger communities across Merseyside.

Every project we deliver, every young person we support, and every partnership we strengthen is driven by one goal: helping people live free from violence and harm.

A huge thank you to Merseyside Police for this commendation and to all our partners who stand alongside us every day.

This achievement belongs to all of us. 💛🛡️

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

Three nights of fun, positive performance, guaranteed to change lives! 🎶🎤

We are so proud to, once again, have supported NOWFest, as this year our young people explored the vitally important theme of mental health and the environment. 🌍

Our mission is to work together to prevent and reduce violence across Merseyside, and central to that is tackling the underlying causes of harm while giving young people every opportunity to thrive in safe, healthy and hopeful communities.

As ever, NOWFest provided a powerful platform for young people to express themselves, share their stories and inspire change.

Their voices help to drive our work in building safer, healthier futures for all. 🗣️

📸 Photo credit, Dave Brownlee

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

💛 Our young people are leading the way.

Across Merseyside, the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme is giving hundreds of young people the skills, confidence and support they need to challenge harmful behaviours and become positive, active bystanders.

By empowering young people to speak up, step in and support one another, MVP is helping to create safer schools, safer communities and a culture where respect is the norm.

🗣️ Through MVP, young people learn how to:
• recognise the signs of harmful or risky behaviour
• challenge it safely and confidently
• support their peers
• become role models who influence change

At the Merseyside VRP, we’re incredibly proud to support MVP and the brilliant schools, teachers and mentors who deliver it across our region.

Together, we’re helping young people build safer futures for themselves and their communities. 💫
@MYARAISETeam

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

📣 Calling all Merseyside schools!

The next VRP Schools Network meeting is coming up on Thursday 19th March 2026, 4–5pm — and we’d love to see even more schools getting involved.

This session will explore “Sports as a Catalyst for Violence Prevention.”

By joining the Schools Network, you can:
✔️ Access trauma‑informed learning and resources
✔️ Hear about new interventions, training and campaigns
✔️ Gain regional and national best practice
✔️ Connect and collaborate with education colleagues
✔️ Work together on solutions to challenges facing young people

🖥️ Join us online

Let’s keep building safer, stronger futures for young people across Merseyside. 💬✨

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

🚨Some great news to end the week!

We've secured another year of funding from @ukhomeoffice, so we can keep delivering interventions that reduce violence.

That means more:
🥊Targeted youth interventions and diversionary activities
🫶Mentoring and critical support
💚 Trauma informed training
👐Community-based interventions

Since we were founded, our programmes and initiatives have supported nearly 1️⃣8️⃣5️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ young people, preventing harm, keeping them safe and building stronger communities.

We're so excited that we can continue this vital work because violence isn't inevitable; it's preventable.💜

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

⏰ Have you got your tickets for NowFest 2026 yet?!

The countdown is on and you don’t want to miss it.

This is one of the most important events of the year, shining a light on mental health and adverse childhood experiences through the voices that matter most: our incredible young people.

Their lived experiences.
Their insight.
Their solutions.

Join us, learn with us, and be inspired by the young leaders shaping a safer, healthier future for Merseyside.

Book your place now — before time runs out!
@MYARAISETeam

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

🚨 CALLING ALL MERSEYSIDE SCHOOLS! 🚨

Our schools network continues to champion a deeper understanding of what works in education to prevent and reduce serious violence.

As part of this commitment, we’re encouraging colleagues to explore the Youth Endowment Fund’s new EPIC Toolkit — a quick, accessible resource designed to spark meaningful conversations within your setting.

This is a vital resource that will benefit you and the young people you support, helping create a safer future for all! 💖

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

💡SPOTLIGHT - Mentors in Violence Prevention💡

"You know you are making a change, bit by bit. That's the most important thing about MVP"

Delivered by @MYARAISETeam, MVP trains young people to lead discussions with younger peers about what it means to be an active bystander.

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

🗣️ Young voices. Big impact. Real change. 🗣️

We’re proud to support this powerful project bringing together young people from across Merseyside to speak out on violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Young people don’t hold back, they call out what they see, challenge harmful behaviours, and push all of us to do better. Their honesty and insight are exactly what’s needed to drive real prevention and lasting change. 💓

👂When we listen, we learn and we strengthen our communities.

💬 Their voices matter and we’re proud to amplify them on the issues that REALLY matter!

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

🚨Calling all schools!🚨

Last week we held our second Schools Network meeting, designed to support professionals and empower schools to create safer environments for young people across Merseyside.

✅Share trauma-informed learning & resources
✅Access new interventions, training & campaigns
✅Gain insight and best practice from experts
✅Collaborate to find solutions to challenges in education

We encourage you to sign up and get involved in our next meeting in May! 👌

You can find recordings of last week's meeting here👇
https://t.co/U2vTAAgdny

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

We’re thrilled to celebrate our fantastic partners Ariel Trust, who have been nominated for a 2026 Liverpool City Region Culture & Creativity Award! 🎉

Ariel Trust are doing incredible work to keep young people across Merseyside safe through engaging, creative, and evidence‑based education programmes, just like the "Grassing or Grooming" workshops - a violence prevention programme for schools designed to help children (primarily Years 5 & 6) identify and resist grooming tactics used by criminal gangs.

Their dedication is helping children build resilience, understand risks, and make safer choices in their everyday lives.

We’re so proud to work alongside such passionate and innovative partners. 💓

Huge congratulations to the whole Ariel Trust team! 👏

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

The first 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ days of a child’s life are critical to their development & wellbeing.

That is why we work on projects that start early – even in the womb!

By helping parents build secure bonds with their 👶 we can break negative life cycles which may impede the parent infant relationship. ♥

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

🚨 Thank you to everyone who joined our second Schools Network meeting last night! 🚨

It was fantastic to see so many passionate education professionals coming together with a shared goal to create safer, more supportive environments for young people across Merseyside.

Your insight, collaboration and commitment are what make this network such a powerful force for positive change. 🙌💙

Our Schools Network is all about:
✅ Sharing trauma‑informed learning & practical resources
✅ Accessing new interventions, training and campaigns
✅ Hearing from experts on emerging risks and best practice
✅ Working together to tackle challenges across education

If you couldn’t make this one, don’t worry — our next meeting is coming up in May.

Keep an eye on our channels for announcements on dates, speakers and how to sign up. You won’t want to miss it! 👀📅

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

What do we do❓

Well, quite a bit, actually❗

In September we published our Annual Report, celebrating 🅵🅸🆅🅴 years of pioneering work to prevent serious violence across the region.

From early years support to youth diversion schemes, in 24/25 we reached more than 33,800 young people and in total more than 150,000 through targeted interventions, education programmes, and community-led projects.

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

Together As One ✨ is an opportunity to highlight this inspiring work to empower more communities to take an active role in crime prevention.

We are always stronger together and by working as one, we can each make Merseyside a region free from violence and the fear of violence and safer place for all. 💗

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

📣 Merseyside schools, teachers & educators!
We’d love to see you this week!

Our next Merseyside VRP Schools Network meeting is nearly here, and there’s still time to sign up.

Join colleagues from across the region to:
✅ Share learning and best practice
✅ Access guidance, resources & support
✅ Strengthen partnerships to help keep young people safe
✅ Hear updates on VRP programmes and opportunities for your school

📅 January 22nd
🔗 Register here: https://t.co/22VsNTDVDi

Let’s continue working together to create safer spaces and brighter futures for our young people. We hope you can make it!

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

📢 Calling all local community groups, charities and youth organisations across Merseyside!

£5️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ grants up for grabs through the @MerseyPolice and @MerseysidePCC Community Cashback Fund 🙌

This money is seized from criminals & put back into our communities where it belongs ✔ and is a wonderful opportunity to enhance the brilliant work we know you are all doing across the region.

Improving opportunities, reducing crime, preventing harm, & making Merseyside safer for all💪

You can find out more details and apply by following this link 👉 https://t.co/iPLOxrVP4z

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

💓 We are delighted to once again be proud supporters of NowFest!

It is an incredible opportunity for schools and youth groups to take part in three inspiring days of performance, creativity, and conversation , all focused on building a society determined to prevent adversity.

Exploring the impact of #AdverseChildhoodExperiences (ACEs) and giving young people the platform to lead the discussion on how these experiences can affect development is vital because their voices can shape the conversation to creating a brighter, violence-free future.

When we listen to and empower young people, we take real steps toward breaking cycles of harm and building resilience in our communities.

📢 Schools and youth groups! Apply now to be part of this transformative event!

Let’s work together to create a society where adversity is prevented, and every child has the chance to thrive.

[Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership @MerseysideVrp]

Great news for young people across Merseyside! 🎉

We’re investing an extra £200,000 into our Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) with @merseysidepcc to deliver new and expanded projects to help prevent crime and create brighter futures.

✅ More sports and creative projects
✅ More mentoring and volunteering opportunities
✅ More safe spaces for young people to thrive

27 existing projects will be strengthened and 18 new initiatives launched – all focused on giving young people positive opportunities and support in their communities.💜