Our Projects
It takes a village to raise a child.
Investing in different communities and agencies is a key part of what we do. Working together can change the course of someone’s life.
If you have concerns about someone or think they could benefit from one of these programmes, please get in touch with us.
To view the projects we’ve previously supported, click below.
Intervention & Diversion
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ED Navigators
St Giles Trust has embedded specialist youth workers in Emergency Departments in Bedfordshire hospitals which have been identified via hospital admissions data as treating high numbers of violent crime victims under the age of 25. The navigators offer support to young people presenting at A&E with concerns relating to to serious youth violence and exploitation, or where staff believe there is a harm related vulnerability.
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Custody Navigators
The Changing Lives in Custody Programme places professional mentors within custody suites to engage 18–25-year-olds at critical “reachable moments,” using impact-driven, psychologically informed interventions to encourage reflection, accountability, and behaviour change.
While in detention, or through referrals from professionals, individuals receive targeted support grounded in motivational and strengths-based approaches. This is followed by structured post-release mentoring, with clear pathways into education, training, and employment.
The programme is delivered across Bedford and Luton custody suites, ensuring continuity of care from the point of arrest through to community reintegration.
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School Navigators
The Schools Navigator Programme is an initiative aimed at providing tailored support to young people within schools. It is a preventative programme to engage with young people who are showing first signs of disengagement from education, through to those considered at risk of exclusion.
Operating within identified ‘hot spot’ areas of the county, this project seeks to address the diverse needs of these students through a 1-2-1, trauma-informed, complex needs approach package. Navigators equip young people with the tools and resources necessary to develop positive behaviours, effective communication skills, resilience and improve educational outcomes and objectives.
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Triage & Diversion
The Luton Youth Partnership Service (YPS) works to prevent reoffending among young people through early intervention and multi-agency support. The service focuses on finding alternatives to formal criminal justice proceedings for young people who have committed first-time or low-level offences and have been diverted away from the statutory youth justice service.
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Project Pathfinders
Delivered by The Children’s Society, Community Navigators are trusted, trained and experienced professionals who take on a period of support for young people referred into the service. They work with young people who have a range of complex needs, experiences and vulnerabilities. Navigators build a rapport and equip young people with social skills, helping them develop positive behaviours. They also improve engagement at school and increase opportunities in training or employment.
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Ignite Futures
Ignite Futures is a targeted youth intervention programme designed to support children and young adults who are struggling to engage in mainstream education, helping develop life skills, confidence and positive behaviour. This two-day immersive experience offers participants a unique opportunity to step into the world of the Fire and Rescue Service, providing a structured, practical alternative to traditional learning environments. -
YFPP
Young Futures Prevention Panels
Young Futures Prevention Panels – coordinated by Luton Youth Partnership Service and Bedford Youth Justice Service, with support from the VEPP – are a key part of Bedfordshire’s preventative approach, bringing agencies together to identify concerns early and coordinate support for children and young people who may be at risk of harm but are otherwise ‘invisible’.
Key partners attend the panels to agree a suitable intervention for the individuals. If required, each partner provides additional data and insights to support key decisions for intervention.
St Giles Trust has embedded specialist youth workers in Emergency Departments in Bedfordshire hospitals which have been identified via hospital admissions data as treating high numbers of violent crime victims under the age of 25. The navigators offer support to young people presenting at A&E with concerns relating to to serious youth violence and exploitation, or where staff believe there is a harm related vulnerability.
The Changing Lives in Custody Programme places professional mentors within custody suites to engage 18–25-year-olds at critical “reachable moments,” using impact-driven, psychologically informed interventions to encourage reflection, accountability, and behaviour change.
While in detention, or through referrals from professionals, individuals receive targeted support grounded in motivational and strengths-based approaches. This is followed by structured post-release mentoring, with clear pathways into education, training, and employment.
The programme is delivered across Bedford and Luton custody suites, ensuring continuity of care from the point of arrest through to community reintegration.
The Schools Navigator Programme is an initiative aimed at providing tailored support to young people within schools. It is a preventative programme to engage with young people who are showing first signs of disengagement from education, through to those considered at risk of exclusion.
Operating within identified ‘hot spot’ areas of the county, this project seeks to address the diverse needs of these students through a 1-2-1, trauma-informed, complex needs approach package. Navigators equip young people with the tools and resources necessary to develop positive behaviours, effective communication skills, resilience and improve educational outcomes and objectives.
The Luton Youth Partnership Service (YPS) works to prevent reoffending among young people through early intervention and multi-agency support. The service focuses on finding alternatives to formal criminal justice proceedings for young people who have committed first-time or low-level offences and have been diverted away from the statutory youth justice service.
Delivered by The Children’s Society, Community Navigators are trusted, trained and experienced professionals who take on a period of support for young people referred into the service. They work with young people who have a range of complex needs, experiences and vulnerabilities. Navigators build a rapport and equip young people with social skills, helping them develop positive behaviours. They also improve engagement at school and increase opportunities in training or employment.
| Ignite Futures is a targeted youth intervention programme designed to support children and young adults who are struggling to engage in mainstream education, helping develop life skills, confidence and positive behaviour. This two-day immersive experience offers participants a unique opportunity to step into the world of the Fire and Rescue Service, providing a structured, practical alternative to traditional learning environments. |
Young Futures Prevention Panels
Young Futures Prevention Panels – coordinated by Luton Youth Partnership Service and Bedford Youth Justice Service, with support from the VEPP – are a key part of Bedfordshire’s preventative approach, bringing agencies together to identify concerns early and coordinate support for children and young people who may be at risk of harm but are otherwise ‘invisible’.
Key partners attend the panels to agree a suitable intervention for the individuals. If required, each partner provides additional data and insights to support key decisions for intervention.
Sport & activities
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Kicks Programme
Luton Town FC Community Trust uses sport as a medium to divert, intervene and prevent young people from becoming involved in serious violence and criminality. This is achieved by providing opportunities for young people to raise their aspirations, set goals, and develop their personal and life skills. Enhanced support and light‑touch retention measures help maintain engagement, including small incentives and additional youth worker follow‑up for those at risk of disengaging.
The Trust is also piloting a project to develop a structured, youth-led peer programme focused on the prevention of Male Violence Against Women and Girls.
Luton Town FC Community Trust uses sport as a medium to divert, intervene and prevent young people from becoming involved in serious violence and criminality. This is achieved by providing opportunities for young people to raise their aspirations, set goals, and develop their personal and life skills. Enhanced support and light‑touch retention measures help maintain engagement, including small incentives and additional youth worker follow‑up for those at risk of disengaging.
The Trust is also piloting a project to develop a structured, youth-led peer programme focused on the prevention of Male Violence Against Women and Girls.
Education & Empowerment
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Online Harms
Young people are navigating an increasingly complex online world where harmful content, exploitation, and manipulative communities can shape attitudes, behaviours, and wellbeing. Connect Futures’ interactive workshops equip education professionals with knowledge, confidence , and practical tools needed to better understand emerging online harms and support young people safely and effectively. For young people, workshops explore issues such as hate and violence online, misinformation, financial exploitation, online theft and scams, and risks linked to criminal exploitation – including drug muling.
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MVAWG Campaign
Development and delivery of a Bedfordshire-wide online harms and violence against women and girls (MVAWG) awareness campaign aimed primarily at young people. Campaign activity will focus on challenging the normalisation of harmful online and relationship behaviours, promoting positive social norms, and signposting audiences to appropriate support services. Funding has been sourced from Amazon Web Services.
Young people are navigating an increasingly complex online world where harmful content, exploitation, and manipulative communities can shape attitudes, behaviours, and wellbeing. Connect Futures’ interactive workshops equip education professionals with knowledge, confidence , and practical tools needed to better understand emerging online harms and support young people safely and effectively. For young people, workshops explore issues such as hate and violence online, misinformation, financial exploitation, online theft and scams, and risks linked to criminal exploitation – including drug muling.
Development and delivery of a Bedfordshire-wide online harms and violence against women and girls (MVAWG) awareness campaign aimed primarily at young people. Campaign activity will focus on challenging the normalisation of harmful online and relationship behaviours, promoting positive social norms, and signposting audiences to appropriate support services. Funding has been sourced from Amazon Web Services.
support & mentoring
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EVOLVE COUNSELLING SERVICE
Bedfordshire Open Door and Sorted have partnered to offer a range of therapies aimed at supporting children to recover from trauma. This involves forms of psychological therapy where a therapist provides support to individuals or small groups. By engaging with a range of agencies, including education providers, young people are identified and referred into the service.
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PROJECT BREAKOUT
Delivered by Everyone’s Gang, the aim of this programme is to connect the work of VEPP with the community. Working within the early intervention and prevention space, this programme focuses on serious violence, VAWG (violence against women and girls) and Anti-Social behaviour. Providing a non-statutory support service to reduce serious violence and exploitation.
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Wingman Mentors
This service provides intensive, relationship-based mentoring to young people who are at risk of violence, exploitation, criminalisation, or repeated crisis presentation. The programme will offer early intervention, stabilisation, and positive pathway support during a critical three-month period. Priority will be given to young people assessed as medium to high risk through partner referral mechanisms.
Bedfordshire Open Door and Sorted have partnered to offer a range of therapies aimed at supporting children to recover from trauma. This involves forms of psychological therapy where a therapist provides support to individuals or small groups. By engaging with a range of agencies, including education providers, young people are identified and referred into the service.
Delivered by Everyone’s Gang, the aim of this programme is to connect the work of VEPP with the community. Working within the early intervention and prevention space, this programme focuses on serious violence, VAWG (violence against women and girls) and Anti-Social behaviour. Providing a non-statutory support service to reduce serious violence and exploitation.
This service provides intensive, relationship-based mentoring to young people who are at risk of violence, exploitation, criminalisation, or repeated crisis presentation. The programme will offer early intervention, stabilisation, and positive pathway support during a critical three-month period. Priority will be given to young people assessed as medium to high risk through partner referral mechanisms.
