Latest news with #MentorsinViolencePrevention
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Voices raised on gender-based violence issues at Paisley Town Hall
Young people from across Renfrewshire gathered to hear from Dr Jackson Katz and to discuss how schools across the country are tackling gender-based violence. Gender-based violence was the focus as more than 200 young people attended a special assembly in Paisley Town Hall. Young people from Renfrewshire and its surrounding areas gathered to hear from Dr Jackson Katz, the creator and co-founder of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme. It is the first large-scale global prevention and peer mentoring leadership initiative for young people. Renowned American educator and author Dr Katz addressed those present with Nicola Sykes, a senior education officer from Education Scotland, also on hand to discuss how schools across the country are tackling gender-based violence through the MVP programme. The Action for Change event was organised by Renfrewshire Council's youth services and children's services, and Education Scotland. All Renfrewshire schools have established the MVP programme – equipping young people with the skills they need to tackle violence when they see it and provide peer support. Renfrewshire's young people voted to prevent violence as their top priority at a youth assembly held during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The Action for Change youth assembly gives young people the chance to have their voices heard and directly influence how the council and its partners support young people to prevent violence. It's one of many events led by youth services and children's services as part of Young and Equally Safe (YES) in Renfrewshire which aims to tackle gender-based violence, affecting young people, across schools and communities. Ruaridh Keating, one of Renfrewshire's the YES group leaders, said: 'It's important to talk about gender-based violence so people's voices are heard and it's not a topic that's brushed under the rug; and it's more publicised than it has been in the past.' Amy-Ellen O'Neill, another YES leader, explained: 'Talking about gender-based violence can help people feel safer to open up about things that have happened to them; especially if everyone talks about it. It raises awareness of the issue.' Dr Katz said: 'I brag about what Scotland is doing all over the world. Over the last 12 to 13 years, there has been a systematic approach to implementing the MVP programme across the country. 'MVP is a leadership programme for young people to help them have the tools to speak up and challenge and interrupt abusive behaviour. 'We focus on men's violence against women, sexual harassment and assault, domestic and relationship abuse – but it is about all forms of violence. 'The model helps young people become leaders, with young people mentoring younger peers and building their confidence in speaking out.' Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron said: 'This event has been a fantastic opportunity for young people to come together and make their voice heard. Real change happens when we listen to what young people have to say. 'Hearing about the work happening in our schools through the Mentors in Violence Prevention and Young and Equally Safe programmes has been inspiring. 'Young people are using their voices and experiences to challenge harmful behaviours, support one another and lead the way in creating safer, more equal communities. 'As a local authority, we are listening to young people and we will build a future free from violence and inequality with young people. 'Our youth services, community learning and development, and schools will continue to work together to support young people across Renfrewshire. The work they do is invaluable.'
Daily Record
08-06-2025
- Daily Record
More funding to tackle youth violence in Scotland announced amid Record campaign
The Record launched the Our Kids ... Our Future campaign in February 2023 after we highlighted a worrying trend of violence among teens. More funding has been announced to tackle youth violence in Scotland after a Daily Record campaign to combat the issue. The Scottish Government confirmed it would be investing an additional £82,000 in the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) this year. The move comes amid the Record's applauded youth violence campaign, Our Kids ... Our Future, which was launched two years ago after we highlighted a worrying trend of violence among teens. As part of the campaign, we have repeatedly called on the Scottish Government to invest in youth clubs and in other ways to help young people as the epidemic unfortunately shows no signs of stopping in Scotland. The cash injection comes as part of a Scottish Government package to tackle violence. It takes funding for the year to £1.217 million - an increase of 7%. Medics Against Violence have also received increased funding of up to £345,000 to deliver a range of activities. A further £156,000 has also been awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The Record launched Our Kids ... Our Future in February 2023 after we reported the shocking assault of autistic schoolgirl Abbie Jarvis at a skatepark in Glasgow on October 4, 2022. Abbie, then 12, was lured to the facility in the city's Drumchapel and beaten unconscious in an attack which left her in hospital for two days. She has since been diagnosed with PTSD. Abbie's attack prompted many other parents of child victims to speak out about scenes of youth violence in Scotland, including Vicky Donald, whose 15-year-old daughter was battered on her way home from school in Ladybank in Fife just weeks later. Since its launch, the Record has reported on three blade tragedies including the untimely deaths of 16-year-old Kory McCrimmon on May 31, 2024, Amen Teklay, 15, on March 5 this year and Kayden Moy, 16, on May 17 just last month. Three teenage boys aged 14, 15, and 16 have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow's Maryhill. In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17 and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden, who was allegedly attacked on Irvine Beach in North Ayrshire, and died in hospital. And just last month, a 14-year-old boy was sentenced to five years detention after admitting culpable homicide following the death of Kory at Glasgow's Greenfield Park last year. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Cabinet Secretary for Justice Angela Constance said: 'It's important to be clear that Scotland remains a safe place to live. But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or those young people who are considering carrying a weapon. There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime, will face the consequences. 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence."
STV News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
John Swinney to host summit on reducing youth violence
First Minister John Swinney will host a summit on reducing youth violence across Scotland in a bid to prevent knife crime. The Scottish Government pledged that funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will rise by 7% to £1.217m. The money comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, who both died this year after allegedly being stabbed. Three teenage boys, aged 14, 15, and 16 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen Teklay, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow on March 5. PA Media People attend a vigil for Eritrean refugee Amen Teklay, 15, who died from fatal injuries in March (Mike Boyd/PA Wire). In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17, and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden Moy who was attacked on Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, on May 17 and died in hospital. Later this month, a march against knife crime, Parents Against Knives, will take place in Glasgow organised by the family of Kory McCrimmon, 16, who died after he was stabbed in a park in Glasgow's east end on May 21 2024. Police Scotland said that the total number of serious assaults by 11 to 18-year-olds fell 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25 from 428 to 313, according to the Scottish Government. An additional £82,000 funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit was announced this week, and Medics Against Violence also received increased funding of up to £345,000 while a further £156,000 has been awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The summit on Thursday will include the Justice and Education secretaries, Ministers for Children and for Victims and Community Safety, cross-party MSPs, youth workers and community programmes. It follows discussions led by Mr Swinney to hear young people and families' experiences and ideas on possible solutions, and will focus on education and community engagement with young people and possible strategies preventing them from turning to anti-social behaviour or carrying a weapon. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or young people considering carrying a weapon. 'There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime will face the consequences. 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence. 'At this meeting we want to hear the views of the youth work and third sector representatives on what more, or different, can be done, within the current financial climate, to help address this issue. 'The role of youth work and grassroots community intervention is key. 'We all must work together to help young people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the answer.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
08-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's knife crime targeted at new summit hosted by FM
The money comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, who both died this year after allegedly being stabbed. Three teenage boys, aged 14, 15, and 16 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen Teklay, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow on March 5. In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17, and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden Moy who was attacked on Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, on May 17 and died in hospital. READ MORE: Dozens of children caught with knives across Scotland Swinney criticised over surge in youth violence in Scotland Later this month, a march against knife crime, Parents Against Knives, will take place in Glasgow organised by the family of Kory McCrimmon, 16, who died after he was stabbed in a park in Glasgow's east end on May 21 2024. Police Scotland said that the total number of serious assaults by 11 to 18-year-olds fell 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25 from 428 to 313, according to the Scottish Government. An additional £82,000 funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit was announced this week, and Medics Against Violence also received increased funding of up to £345,000 while a further £156,000 has been awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The summit on Thursday will include the Justice and Education secretaries, Ministers for Children and for Victims and Community Safety, cross-party MSPs, youth workers and community programmes. It follows discussions led by Mr Swinney to hear young people and families' experiences and ideas on possible solutions, and will focus on education and community engagement with young people and possible strategies preventing them from turning to anti-social behaviour or carrying a weapon. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or young people considering carrying a weapon. 'There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime will face the consequences. 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence. 'At this meeting we want to hear the views of the youth work and third sector representatives on what more, or different, can be done, within the current financial climate, to help address this issue. 'The role of youth work and grassroots community intervention is key. 'We all must work together to help young people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the answer.'
The National
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney to host summit on tackling youth violence
The Scottish Government also pledged that funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will rise by 7% to £1.217 million. The money comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, who both died this year after allegedly being stabbed. READ MORE: Several Glasgow city centre roads closed amid ongoing incident Three teenage boys, aged 14, 15, and 16 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen Teklay, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow on March 5. In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17, and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden Moy who was attacked on Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, on May 17 and died in hospital. Later this month, a march against knife crime, Parents Against Knives, will take place in Glasgow organised by the family of Kory McCrimmon, 16, who died after he was stabbed in a park in Glasgow's east end on May 21, 2024. Police Scotland said that the total number of serious assaults by 11 to 18-year-olds fell 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25 from 428 to 313, according to the Scottish Government. An additional £82,000 in funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit was announced this week, and Medics Against Violence also received increased funding of up to £345,000 while a further £156,000 has been awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The summit on Thursday will include the justice and education ministers, as well as ministers for children and for victims and community safety, cross-party MSPs, youth workers and community programmes. It follows discussions led by Swinney to hear young people and families' experiences and ideas on possible solutions, and will focus on education and community engagement with young people and possible strategies preventing them from turning to anti-social behaviour or carrying a weapon. Justice Secretary Angela Constance (Image: PA) Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or young people considering carrying a weapon. 'There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime will face the consequences. READ MORE: UK won't recognise Palestine at UN conference despite 'discussions', reports say 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence. 'At this meeting, we want to hear the views of the youth work and third-sector representatives on what more, or different, can be done, within the current financial climate, to help address this issue. 'The role of youth work and grassroots community intervention is key. 'We all must work together to help young people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the answer.'
