Published in July 2021, the cross-government Beating Crime Plan announced an investment of over £45m in specialist support in both mainstream and alternative provision (AP) schools in areas where serious youth violence is most prevalent, to support young people at risk of involvement in violence to re-engage with education.

The majority of this funding is focused on investment for mainstream schools through the SAFE taskforces programme, with £30m of funding over a three-year period.

SAFE stands for support, attend, fulfil, exceed. The taskforces will bring together mainstream schools to commission evidence-based interventions to support young people with challenging behaviour, enabling them to attend school regularly, so they can fulfil their potential and prevent costly poor life outcomes by inspiring them to exceed their expectations​.

Ten areas in the country have been selected to set up a SAFE taskforce led by mainstream secondary schools.

The 10 SAFE areas are:

Bradford Newham Manchester Lambeth Leeds
Birmingham Southwark Sheffield Liverpool Haringey

 

In Liverpool, the SAFE Taskforce is being led by All Saints Multi Academy Trust.

Funding of up to £3,377,550 over a 3-year period has been secured for Liverpool.

SAFE Taskforces harness the leadership, expertise and distinct position in children and young peoples’ lives held by schools, as they work collaboratively with multi-agency partners and experts across their local authority area.

Their purpose is to make a tangible difference in young people’s lives, through commissioning and investing in evidence-informed interventions which tackle serious violence either directly, or through improved behavioural/attitudinal indicators and increased engagement in education.

Intervention 1 is the implementation of SAFE workers in 11 schools who will provide 1-1 mentoring and support to the referred young person, working both in and out of school with the pupil and their family for a period of around 6 months.

Intervention 2 is the building of a data-sharing hub that will bring together information from multiple agencies that work with families and young people across the city. ​

The information will include schools, social services, family support and police.

Intervention 3 is the implementation of Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) in schools and training school staff in trauma-informed practice. 

Intervention 4 involves 13 schools  and offers a 12-week engagement programme for selected pupils to explore ‘Choice Theory’ and cognitive behavioural approaches through Sports sessions delivered by Liverpool School Sports Partnership Foundation.  These engagement sessions will then lead to an extra-curricular offer including signposting to community sport plus an expedition.

Intervention 5 offers a 4-session programme to girls exploring the following key areas:  Social Media & Me, Friendship Fix, Mental Health and Choices & Consequences.

Intervention 6 is a training programme for school SENCos delivered by Speech & Language Therapists from Alder Hey.  The SENCos will follow an 11-16 year old specific programme and can opt to work towards the ELKLAN accreditation.

Schools

The project currently offers one or more interventions to the following schools in Liverpool:

The Academy of St Nicholas​

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi​

Dixons Broadgreen Academy​

Dixons Croxteth​ Academy

Dixons Fazakerley​ Academy

Notre Dame Catholic College​

Cardinal Heenan​ Catholic High School

Kings Leadership Academy​

New Heights​ High School

Clifford Holroyde​ Specialist SEN College

North Liverpool Academy​

Childwall Sports and Science​ Academy

Alsop High School

Holly Lodge Girls College

St John Bosco Arts College

West Derby School

St Margaret’s Academy

Gateacre School

St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Academy

 

 

Whilst the SAFE project is focused on Key Stage 3, the ELSA intervention has been able to offer training to the following Primary Schools:

 

Middlefield Community Primary School​

St Hugh’s Catholic Primary School​

Pinehurst Primary School​

Our Lady and St Philomena’s Catholic Primary​

Faith Primary Academy​

St Teresa’s of Lisieux Catholic Primary School​

Arnot Saint Mary Church of England Primary School​

Croxteth Community Primary ​School

Dovecot Primary School​

Banks Road Primary School​

St Silas Church of England Primary School

 

Project Team:

Helen Aldridge – Project Commissioning Lead

Joyce Youds – Intervention 3 Project Lead