The Youth Justice Board (YJB) ‘Pathfinder Serious Youth Violence and First Time Entrants to the Youth Justice Service in Newcastle upon Tyne, 2022’ research involved analysis of a large aggregation of data from across statutory agencies in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne local authority area, as well as interviews with practitioners from third sector and statutory agencies and  young people involved with Youth Justice (focusing on first time entrants and those involved in serious youth violence). 

Serious Youth Violence and First Time Entrants to the Youth Justice Service in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne: Serious Youth Violence Pathfinder (April 2022), Final Report, Headlines Report, Interim Report, project infographics, webinar and video are all available here:

https://yjresourcehub.uk/serious-youth-violence-and-first-time-entrants-to-the-youth-justice-service-in-newcastle-upon-tyne-serious-youth-violence-pathfinder-april-2022/ 

In Spring 2023, The Children’s Society’s Newcastle team commissioned Northumbria University to conduct an evaluation of their SCARPA (Safeguarding Children at Risk – Prevention and Action) service.

SCARPA works across the whole of the North East region, supporting children and young people aged 10-18 who go missing and/or are at risk of or are victims of exploitation. This project involved a mixture of quantitative and qualitative research methods, including interviews with stakeholders and young people impacted by serious youth violence (SYV) and/or child criminal exploitation (CCE).

The subsequent reports focus on key findings in relation to the four project research aims:

1. To develop a greater understanding of the changing picture of SYV/CCE in Newcastle and the North East of England.

2. To evaluate the principles, approaches, models, and methods used by the Children’s Society’s SCARPA service to engage with young people affected by SYV/CCE.

3. To assess the impact of the work of The Children’s Society’s SCARPA service on young people, families, communities, and services.

4. To establish broader practice lessons about supporting young people affected by serious violence (practice standards in the North East).

The reports conclude by identifying areas of good practice in the SCARPA service, recommendations on how they can further enhance their work in supporting young people impacted by CCE and SYV, as well as highlighting the implications of these research findings for broader regional and national practice.

Interim report April 2023: 

https://doi.org/10.25398/rd.northumbria.25959022.v1   

Full Report March 2024:

https://doi.org/10.25398/rd.northumbria.25818589.v1 

Project Infographics: 

https://doi.org/10.25398/rd.northumbria.25959145.v1 

This report examines the provision of support services aimed at preventing and addressing youth antisocial behaviour (ASB) and serious youth violence (SYV) across Durham and Darlington. The research assessed the comprehensiveness, coherence, accessibility, and strategic alignment of current services.

To provide a robust and comprehensive examination of the support available for young people involved in or at risk of SYV and ASB in Durham and Darlington, an interrelated four stage mixed methods approach was adopted. This included integrating desk-based research, an online survey (n=33), crime and ASB data analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

Recommendations from research

1. Implement a systematic process for mapping and integrating youth crime and ASB data, ensuring alignment with local needs.
2. Develop tailored services for changing demographics, particularly girls and those entrenched in ASB and violence.
3. Enhance support for families and caregivers to foster stable environments and reduce youth engagement in harmful behaviours.
4. Establish a region-wide definition of ‘at-risk’ groups, ensuring consistent identification and targeting across agencies.
5. Consider extending youth services to cover young people beyond the age of 18, supporting the transition into adulthood.
6. Identify and address barriers to service engagement, improving awareness, accessibility, and reducing stigma.
7. Consider the role of generic youth services for Durham and Darlington, how and where they could exist. There was a universal agreement that the lack of youth services played a significant role in the current position.
8. Develop OPCC guidance for service providers to evidence the impact of interventions, enhancing accountability and resource allocation.

Full Report March 2025:

https://doi.org/10.25398/rd.northumbria.29401889