We describe street violence as assaults, fights, gang-related activity and crimes involving weapons, which have serious consequences for individuals and communities. It impacts people’s sense of safety and trust.
Street violence si a result of social, economic, psychological, and environmental factors, and is often tied to other complex issues, including poverty, social inequality, lack of opportunity, and place based community support systems.
Young people have highlighted how they feel unsafe, helpless and afraid in the face of street violence, which results in some of them carrying weapons to protect themselves.
Additional barriers to employment, training and a lack of effective role models, further reduce young people’s engagement as active citizens in society and can lead to their involvement in “at risk”
activities, criminality or increased reoffending.
Statistics show:
- 2023-2024 there were 50,500 offences recorded in England and Wales with 1,500 young people admitted to hospital as a result of assault from a sharp object and
- out of the 64 homicides recorded for 13-19 year olds, 83% were killed by a sharp instrument.
With young people most likely to be at the scene when another young person has been attacked, their actions in those minutes following an injury can be the difference between life and death.
Yet most do not know what to do in an emergency and feel scared of making a mistake or being implicated.
What is taking a ‘public health approach’ to violence?
A public health approach calls for society-wide focus on root causes of violence, and advocates for all relevant sectors of society to work closely together to create safer places for young people, where safeguarding, trauma reduction and wellbeing takes top priority.
This means close partnerships between schools, local authorities, police and criminal justice, healthcare, families and communities.
StreetDoctors brings together local young healthcare students and professionals (our volunteer trainers) with young people affected by violence.
Our peer-to-peer approach enables young people to gain access to positive role models, showing that a future away from violence is possible.
It also empowers our volunteers to become better healthcare professionals who understand more about the issues of violence and how it affects young people.
StreetDoctors work closely with Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) who commission our emergency first aid training sessions for young people in their areas.
We have strong and meaningful partnerships with a range of statutory and voluntary groups.
We must move beyond seeing young people as simply vulnerable or at risk — they are key to reducing violence, shaping safer streets, and building stronger, more hopeful communities. When we invest in their skills, confidence and leadership, we don’t just prevent harm, we inspire a generation of changemakers who can lead their peers with courage and purpose. That’s exactly what we’re setting out to achieve with the Young Leaders Project, delivered in partnership between StreetDoctors and the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit