Catch22, alongside delivery partners Advance, London Youth and Kooth, have been commissioned by MOPAC to deliver the Young Londoners’ Victim Service.
The service will provide specialist support for children and young people who are victims and witnesses of crime across London to help them cope and recover from their experiences.
Building on Catch22’s experience delivering support to victims of all ages in Hertfordshire, Leicestershire and Greater Manchester, the Young Londoners’ Victim Service will provide young people with trauma-informed and personalised emotional and practical support and advocacy.
The pan-London service will focus on ensuring young people achieve the following outcomes:
- Enhanced ability to cope and build resilience, enabling them to move forward with daily life
- Improved knowledge and a greater sense of empowerment
- Reduced risk of further victimisation and increased feelings of safety
- Improved health and well-being
- Access to the right support when needed
The Young Londoners’ Victim Service will form part of a wider ecosystem of support services across the capital to improve victims’ outcomes and ensure that no victim is left behind – the London Victim and Witness Service (LVWS).
Partnership delivery for the Young Londoners’ Victim Service alongside Advance, London Youth and Kooth will provide young victims with holistic, wraparound support. Advance will support the delivery of the service through the provision of specialist caseworkers dedicated to young women and girls. London Youth will develop and deliver training to Trusted Youth Allies (TYA) in the community, as part of the TYA programme. The service will also provide children and young people with access to Kooth.com, a safe, confidential and personalised digital mental health service.
Sophie Linden, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said:
“All Londoners who find themselves affected by crime deserve the best possible care and support. Thanks to a £1m investment from the Mayor of London, this new service is designed to reach more young victims of crime than ever. It will provide a breadth of expertise to help them cope, recover and rebuild their young lives.”
Emma Jones, Assistant Director (Victims), Catch22, said:
“This new service is a vital step towards ensuring that young victims in London receive the comprehensive support they need. By working closely with our partners, we are committed to empowering young people to rebuild their lives and feel safe again.”
With Catch22’s dedication to advocating for victims’ rights, alongside its proven track record, and that of partners Advance, London Youth and Kooth, of delivering effective support for victims, this service promises to make a lasting difference to the lives of young victims in London.
The service will go live on October 1st and will become part of Catch22’s portfolio of services supporting victims of crime, which include Victim First, Beacon Victim Care and Greater Manchester Victims Services.