PFCC Conference 2026: Violence and Vulnerability Unit supporting students toward a positive future

A partnership committed to preventing violence, reducing vulnerability and creating opportunities is helping some of Essex’s most vulnerable young people to thrive and fulfil their potential.

Victory Park Academy, in Southend supports up to 101 students to rebuild confidence, enjoy learning again, and prepare for a positive future.

Many of the young people who attend have experienced social, emotional, SEND and mental health needs, have previously been persistently absent from school and/or at risk of exploitation.

But, since partnering with Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU), engagement, attendance and behaviour have improved and suspensions have dropped – with young people “becoming safer and less vulnerable”, according to their headteacher.

Engaging in, and attending education, is proven to reduce the risk of future involvement in violence for young people.

The school now reports 77.5 per cent attendance, compared to the national average for alternative provisions of 59 per cent.

Headteacher Landi Muca said: “This work is helping to reduce vulnerabilities and improving the life chances for some of the most vulnerable young people in Essex.

“It is not about school improvement, it’s about how education, local authority and community partnerships can come together to make the future better for young people.”

At the recent Power of Partnerships: Keeping Essex Safer Together conference, Sam Grant, Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit project manager, addressed delegates alongside Landi to talk about the school partnership.

The conference, held by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex at the Colchester JobServe Community Stadium, enabled partners to hear of the work going on to combat crime and improve the life chances of residents.

Delegates learned from Sam how Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (formed in 2019) applies a public health approach to reducing knife crime, recognising that violence is often the result of a range of social, environmental and personal factors rather than a single event. By bringing together data, research, local insight and, crucially, the voices and lived experiences of young people, Essex VVU works with partners to better understand the factors that can increase vulnerability to violence.

This approach is achieved through collaboration across agencies, communities and young people themselves, enabling identification of risks and protective factors early, provide the right support at the right time, and create opportunities that help young people build safer, healthier, more positive future and safer communities.

The work in Victory Park is one excellent example of this work in practice making a real difference to young people in Essex.

Mr Landi Muca, then went on to talk about the positive changes he has seen in his school since partnering with Essex VVU.

Landi said: “These young people do not trust in education as it has not worked for them before. Our job is not simply to teach them, but to build trust.

“The intervention here is the trusted relationships that are developed when the child is taking part in art, or horse riding, or whatever the activity is. That is when they open up about their experiences and they start to trust adults and regulate their emotions, and then they experience success they have not experienced before.

“It is the relationship that keeps them engaged and turning up, day after day. The enrichment is not a reward, it is evidence-based intervention for our young people.

“If it were not for those relationships, these young people would not turn up every day. They would be taking part in activities we do not want them to be getting involved in. Young people who remain engaged in education are significantly less likely to be involved in exploitation and serious violence.

“Every child deserves to have someone who does not give up on them; that is important. That is what the VVU brings to our academy. None of this is achieved by a school alone; it is thanks to this partnership.”

Sam continued “Essex VVU delivers targeted interventions to address vulnerabilities. Knife crime is increasing in England and Wales. But, in Essex, that figure is going down. It is incredibly important that we keep doing what we are doing.”

• Victory Park Academy attendance 77.5%, compared to 59% nationally

• Physical interventions reduced by 92%

• Suspensions down by 61.5%

• 95% of students achieve English and maths qualifications

• Landi Muca: “These are not just education statistics; every improvement represents a reduction in vulnerability.”