Purpose

StreetDoctors has a longstanding partnership with GM Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), having delivered app-based learning across GM and providing bespoke learning sessions in mainstream and alternative provision learning establishments. Both StreetDoctors and the GM VRU are keen to engage young people who would not normally access learning. In 2024/25, the VRU commissioned a pilot project which aimed to train and support young people to make a real impact on the safety of their community by creating the eco-system for them to take a leading role in saving lives and educating others, raising the confidence and aspirations of those involved. The success of the pilot has resulted in this larger 2 year commission to scale up delivery.

The project will initially run 11 StreetDoctors Stepwise programmes which will support young people affected by violence and train them in life saving skills, social skills development, improved self-confidence, communication skills, and inspire them to engage in social action. The programmes will be run with 6 lead community partners who will support the recruitment and engagement of the young people. The StepWise programme, focuses on youth engagement and is run through 10 sessions which includes: Understanding their communities needs, StreetDoctors’ core bleeding and knocked out training sessions, a nationally recognised First Aid qualification, a mental health & emotional wellbeing session, peer education & facilitation training, a specialist session for career development and the planning/ delivery of the social action element (including the training of other young people).

Upon completion of the programme, a cohort of young people will be selected from the Stepwise programmes to gain further training to become community educators, whilst becoming inspiring young community leaders and role models. The community educators will continue their training through StreetDoctors externally accredited training programme and will be mentored through a personalised personal development plan to support their leadership skills. Through the next 12 weeks the young leaders will gain greater understanding of their community needs, co-design and deliver training to other young people at schools, community centres and youth clubs, whilst gaining skills for employability in youth work and health care.

The programme will be evaluated by StreetDoctors and used to support further development and delivery in other CJ settings including Custody. At all times throughout delivery, Streetdoctors will employ use of the app created by Streetdoctors co-commissioned by GM & Merseyside VRUs to aid delivery.

Decision

Following successful delivery in 2025/26 of the ‘Young Leaders Programme’, the VRU is seeking to award £60,000 to fund year 2 of a bespoke programme to train young people within the CJ system to learn about the impact of trauma injuries and deliver trauma first aid to their peers.