London's Violence Reduction Unit Custody Based Youth Services to Provide Support to Young People

London’s Violence Reduction Unit Custody Based Youth Services to Provide Support to Young People The London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is undertaking a market engagement exercise on Monday 22nd June to inform the recommissioning of custody-based intervention services for 18-25s in London . The London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is committed to reducing violence by understanding how it affects young people and communities and by building strong partnerships across sectors, including youth work, local authorities, education, health, policing, and the voluntary and community sector. Through this work, the VRU champions prevention and early intervention, ensuring that the voices of young people are central to shaping services and driving system change. Custody-based interventions form a key part of this approach, providing support at critical ‘reachable and teachable’ moments. Background to Current Service Custody-based interventions (CBI) drive the importance of supporting young people during their critical point in their journey through the criminal justice system. Young people present in custody with complex needs and can face multiple barriers in accessing positive opportunities. Without meaningful intervention, they are at heightened risk of reoffending, social exclusion, and long-term negative outcomes. The current service provision is DIVERT, a custody-based intervention programme supporting young adults aged 18–25 at a crucial stage in the criminal justice system. The programme has been running for the past 10 years and has been funded through the London Violence Reduction Unit since 2021, reaching 9,417 young adults over the past five years. Delivered by Custody Intervention Coaches (CICs), the service operates across 12 custody suites in London and continues into the community, providing tailored, trauma-informed support. The programme focuses on addressing barriers such as housing, health, and lack of identification, while creating pathways into education, training, and employment (ETE). CICs use a strengths-based and relational approach, supporting young people to build confidence, resilience and practical skills to help achieve longer-term stability and positive outcomes. The VRU seeks to address the challenges faced by young people aged 18–25 in custody by commissioning a service that delivers trauma-informed support and creates pathways into ETE, and wider community services. The aim of the service is to ensure that young people are not defined by their offending behaviour but are supported to achieve stability, resilience, and build long-term positive futures. Aims of Recommissioning 18-25 Custody Provision The VRU has conducted an engagement exercise with stakeholders and conducted a review of the existing offer in London. We are now seeking to recommission the service to ensure London continues to deliver a high-quality, trauma-informed and effective custody-based intervention model for young adults aged 18–25. The recommissioning process aims to: renew and strengthen the current model so the service is resilient and equipped to respond to the evolving and increasingly complex needs of young adults build on learning from operational delivery, stakeholder engagement and the MOPAC evaluation findings strengthen consistency, partnership working and delivery expectations across London explore opportunities for innovation and improved outcomes within the context of increasing demand and a constrained financial environment ensure future delivery continues to support meaningful engagement, sustained post-custody support and pathways into positive opportunities The Violence Reduction Unit is seeking to re-commission a provider to deliver a custody-based service supporting young people aged 18–25. The service will deliver: Service Requirements The VRU is looking for a provider (can be a partnership or consortium bid with a lead provider) who can deliver across the following requirements: Strength-based engagement – adopt a positive and dedicated approach that recognises young people’s skills, aspirations, and potential. Tailored interventions – provide responsive, flexible, and timely support that addresses individual needs, including barriers such as housing, mental health, and substance misuse. Holistic practical support – assist with ID documentation, GP registration, digital access, family/relationship support, and other pre-ETE needs. Pathways into ETE – establish strong partnerships with employers, training providers, and education establishments to create sustainable opportunities for progression. Ongoing community support – ensure continuity of care through mentoring, guidance, and signposting beyond custody. Collaborative working – actively engage with statutory agencies, Metropolitan Police, probation, local authorities, health, and community partners to deliver coordinated interventions. Reducing reoffending – focus on diversion from the criminal justice syst