REPORT: Local Government Association - Understanding Girls and Young women’s involvement in Youth Violence
REPORT: Exploring the situation facing local councils and partners around girls and young women involved in youth violence, primarily as perpetrators.
In 2022, young women and girls accounted for 13 percent of reported youth offences. However, the Local Government Association was receiving reports of a potential increase of girls and young women’s involvement in youth violence and commissioned us to conduct a study alongside a co-creation group of six women with previous experiences of involvement in youth violence.
We wanted to better understand what trends are emerging in young women and girls' involvement in youth violence through a review of the literature in the last 10 years on girls and young women’s involvement in youth violence, an exploration lab and interviews with local governments and partner organisations to better understand what trends are being observed, as well as, the root causes of young women and girls involvement in youth violence they are discovering through frontline work.
The co-creation group led with sense checking findings to identify root causes of youth violence, emphasised nuances, and ensured child-friendly, empathetic language when discussing at-risk girls' experiences.
The report explores root causes, victimisation, and support for at-risk girls, emphasising how intersectionality, cultural competence, and addressing gender stereotypes can improve responses to grooming, trauma, and youth violence.
Key Recommendations:
For Government:
Strengthen collaboration with councils, schools, and community groups using central funding.
Train professionals to spot risks using data, and reduce school exclusions with tailored support.
Integrate girls' needs into the Serious Violence Strategy.
Fund trauma-informed workers for targeted support.
Operational Steps:
Build trusting relationships through gender-informed specialists.
Create safe spaces and therapeutic programs to address trauma and emotional needs.
Ensure accessible mental health support for at-risk girls
You can read the full report here. If you have any questions or want to discuss this or other projects, get in touch at hello@cvr.community.co.uk.
The Local Government Association is a politically-led, cross-party organisation for local governments across England that ensures local councils have a representative voice in national politics.