VRU serious violence school and College toolkit
The VRU has continued to focus on supporting young people with mental health and emotional needs over this year . The work has included creating the Serious Violence Toolkit to support schools in becoming trauma informed and how they can take a public health approach by understanding root causes of violence and violent behaviours which can lead to disengagement from education.
The VRU designed the toolkit in consultation with educational psychologists, the two Local Authorities and education sector representatives. The toolkit provides a summary of emerging practice from across the country and includes the work currently being delivered or planned within the County. The toolkit supports the work to create trauma-informed practice in the education sector through the sharing of resources and toolkits which allow senior leaders to understand how to become a trauma-informed school or college.
The VRU have provided leadership and support to grow the trauma informed work across partners, and with the education sector in particular.
A VRU Director chairs the Supporting People With Adverse Childhood Experiences (SPACE Matters) program which, in collaboration with Kent County Council’s Public Health service, is a collaborative project across Kent and Medway to prevent and reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The network has been able to create a network of local ACE Ambassadors who build local trauma-informed networks, and a framework for services to use to evaluate their journey to becoming trauma informed.
The VRU are also co-funding trauma informed education with Medway Council.
You can find this toolkit in our resources section or contact the VRU to have it sent via email to you.
working in collaboration with the children's society
Online exploitation awareness toolkit
The Children’s Society’s Online Exploitation Awareness Toolkit and our collaboration with Kent and Medway VRU
The Children’s Society’s Exploitation Awareness Toolkit contains resources to support pupils to develop their knowledge of exploitation topics, including related content such as consent, safety and healthy relationships. The toolkit contains:
- Lesson plans, editable powerpoints, activities and worksheets for delivering sessions in primary schools, aimed at years 5 and 6
- Lesson plans and editable powerpoints for mainstream secondary schools
- SEND Curriculum on County Lines, including a graphic novel, lesson plans and editable slides aimed at those of secondary school age
- Training videos for staff development about exploitation, unconscious biases, trauma informed practice, co-regulation, and transitions
- Additional links to other useful resources, with a ‘support services’ section which includes details of the local offer for Kent and Medway areas
You'll be asked to complete a short form when you first visit the site and then be able to access all of the above and bookmark for future access.
Resources are downloadable and editable, within our terms and conditions, and have been developed and piloted in consultation with practitioners and young people.
Any queries can be directed to infoDEx@childrenssociety.org.uk.