Evidence Based Practice
Picture – Choices Year 6 and 7 programme run by Artswork featuring Bearface Theatre Company
The VRP work collaboratively in partnership to implement and evaluate evidence based interventions for people and communities in need.
There are several organisations in the VRP that commission services. The VRP advocate strongly for future commissioning decisions that will focus on an evidence base of ‘what works’ by utilizing resources such as College of Policing, Youth Endowment Fund Toolkit as well as results of existing intervention evaluation data.
The VRP will adopt a Public Health Approach to commissioning interventions, which is with and for communities. The partnership is committed to taking a trauma-informed approach in understanding and defining the problem of violence in our communities. Whilst, focusing on developing and testing prevention strategies and ensuring widespread adoption of effective strategies.
When working with children and young people, the VRP will adopt the ‘Child First‘ principles, meaning that interventions will see the child as whole, tackle influences on offending and promote influences that will support them towards pro-social behaviour.
The VRU will continue to evaluate key VRP projects and interventions to contribute to national learning. The VRP will promote a culture of evaluation across the VRP, working with academic partners to develop realistic and sustainable evaluation approaches. The VRP will seek to develop a collaborative research environment. The VRP Evaluation Strategy can be found on the Useful Documents page HERE.
For more information on VRU-commissioned evaluations please see the Evaluations tab below.
For information on funding please scroll to the funding opportunities tab below.
The VRP evaluate of all of its commissioned interventions. This is so we can understand what works in reducing serious violence, and help to contribute to the evidence base in this area. Please see all of our evaluations for past and present interventions below:
A hospital-based violence prevention programme that involves Youth Workers working in hospital settings (particularly Emergency Departments) to support and engage children and young people who present at hospital having experienced violence, being at-risk of violence, or presenting with another related vulnerability (e.g., substance use, mental health issues).
This is no longer a VRU-commissioned intervention.
A school-based violence prevention programme, targeted at Year 6 and Year 7 students to provide additional support during the potentially vulnerable transition period from primary to secondary school. Choices examines the risks and impact of knife crime, exploitation, and other types of violence and abuse. The programme aims to enable young people to make healthy decisions, build positive relationships, and respond appropriately to potentially risky or challenging situations.
This intervention is currently commissioned by the VRU.
A custody-based violence prevention programme targeted towards 18-25 year olds, that involves Youth Workers (RESET navigators) offering young people the opportunity in police custody, during a ‘reachable and teachable moment’ to uptake a programme of ongoing flexible one-to-one and targeted community-based support. It aims to reduce young people’s risks of reoffending by reducing the impacts of a range of different risk factors and increasing the role of protective factors related to their circumstances and needs.
This intervention is currently commissioned by the VRU.
A Trauma Informed Policing Programme with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. The intervention meant trauma informed Practitioners trained and worked with police to improve their knowledge, attitudes, and practices around trauma informed policing.
This is no longer a VRU-commissioned intervention.
Below is a curated list of funding opportunities available to support vulnerable young people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Please note that this list is not exhaustive—many other funding sources are available. If you are aware of additional opportunities that should be included, we welcome your input. Please contact us, and we will gladly update the list.
Please note that the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is not able to assist with the application process. These funding opportunities are intended for you to explore and apply for independently.
Email - VRU@hampshire.police.uk
Grant Finder Websites
Funding Provider Websites
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner
To be eligible for funding opportunities from the OPCC, sign up to the Funding Network below;
Funding Network - Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner
- Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation
We are an independent grant making charity focused on enabling positive social change within the poorest and most disadvantaged communities in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. Click on the link below to see what funding opportunities are available:
- Youth Endowment Fund
Youth Endowment Fund funding opportunities;
Funding opportunities | Youth Endowment Fund
- Big Lottery Fund
Big Lottery Fund, Find out what funding is available
Funding | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)
- YOF – Youth Opportunities Funding
https://www.gov.uk/apply-youth-opportunity-funding
- Sport England
We fund projects and organisations, small and large, that help people get more active. Every penny we spend ties into our vision that everyone in England should feel able to take part in sport and physical activity.
- Arts Council England
We’re looking for organisations, artists, events, initiatives and others to apply for our funding and help us achieve our strategy
Our open funds | Arts Council England
- BBC Children in Need
Before applying to BBC Children in Need, we recommend you read about our processes and minimum standards for grant making. This will help you understand what we look for in a grant application. Click one of the buttons to find out more.
Apply For A Grant - BBC Children in Need
- The Triangle Trust
Our focus this year is on young women and girls with a history of offending or who are at a high risk of registering a first offence.
Our Autumn funding round is now open. More information can be found in Funding and to start your application, please use our eligibility checker below. Grant Rounds will open at the end of April 2026.