Fund to help vulnerable young people stay engaged in education

The Department for Education has set out its plans for two new projects to support young people most at risk of serious violence or gang exploitation to stay engaged with their education and out of harm.

Available in 21 areas across England from November this year, Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforces will work directly with young people in alternative provision settings to offer intensive support from experts, including mental health professionals, family workers, and speech and language therapists.

Backed by £15 million, awarded from the Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund, this two-year programme will aim to keep pupils in Alternative Provision including those who have been excluded from school engaged in education, getting them back on track with their studies and preventing them from being drawn into gang activity or becoming involved with serious crime.

In addition, £30 million will be invested into a programme of SAFE (‘Support, Attend, Fulfil, Exceed’) Taskforces which will be rolled out in 10 of these serious violence hotspots areas from early 2022. This three-year initiative will be led by local schools to protect young people at risk of truant and from being permanently excluded.

The SAFE programme will deliver targeted interventions to reduce truancy, improve behaviours, and reduce the risk of individuals failing to enter education, employment or training (NEET).

The 21 areas where Alternative Provision Taskforces will be rolled out have been identified using combined data suggesting higher incidences of youth violence, including hospital admissions for assault with a sharp object, as well as the volume of serious violence offences. The funding provided to Alternative Provision settings will be based on their size and has been London weighted. The 10 SAFE areas will be confirmed in due course, from among the 21 announced today.

The full list of 21 areas includes: Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Croydon, Liverpool, Leeds, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Nottingham, Leicester, Haringey, Newham, Bristol, Doncaster, Enfield, Southwark, Brent, Bradford, Salford, Lambeth and Sandwell.