Our 2025 Partnership Conference

On Thursday 12 June, nearly 200 delegates from across the Humber region gathered for our 2025 Partnership Conference. The event brought together professionals, policymakers, academics and community leaders to reflect on the progress made in violence prevention and to plan for the future.

Following the success of previous conferences, this year’s event focused on showcasing the impact of our commissioned interventions, the power of data sharing and our local response strategy to reducing serious violence.

Throughout the day, attendees shared insights and strengthened partnerships to help create safer communities across Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Keep reading to learn key takeaways from the event.

A Call to Action

“Violence is an issue that affects all society and something we must tackle together.”
- Jonathan Evison, Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership (VPP)

Opening the conference, Jonathan Evison delivered a powerful address that set the tone for the day. 

He acknowledged the dedication and impact of partner organisations and emphasised the importance of applying a public health approach to violence prevention. His message was one of shared responsibility, reminding attendees that sustainable change requires collective effort.

Reflecting on a Year of Progress

“Thank you to the Humber VPP team, our Board, our partners, our providers and everyone who has been involved in this work.”
- Richard Kendall, Director of the Humber VPP

Richard Kendall highlighted the Humber VPP's key achievements from the past year, including the publication of our annual report, delivery plan and the successful implementation of grant-funded interventions.

These initiatives, ranging from social skills development to sports-based programmes, have already begun to make a real difference in the lives of young people and communities. You can read the case studies here.

A National Perspective on Violence Prevention

“Building partnerships and developing interventions is important for driving real, lasting change and our shared vision for safer communities for everyone.”
- The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention

Delivering the keynote address, Dame Diana Johnson brought a national lens to the conversation. She spoke about the government’s commitment to tackling serious violence through legislative and community-based initiatives, including the Crime and Policing Bill and the Young Futures programme.

Dame Diana also highlighted the importance of mental health services and holistic, person-centred approaches. She praised our Navigators programme as a model of breaking down barriers and supporting people at risk.

Policing with Purpose

“Be victim focused, be community focused and be workforce focused.”
- Chief Constable Chris Todd, Humberside Police

Chief Constable Chris Todd offered a compelling perspective on the role of policing in violence prevention. He emphasised the importance of understanding the unique needs of each community and tailoring responses accordingly. His focus on data analytics and trauma-informed practice showed a commitment to victims, communities and the workforce.

Hotspot Policing: Lessons from the Frontline

“This is partners working together to make the communities that we police better.”
- Det. Superintendent Doug Blackwood, Humberside Police and Community Safety Unit

Detective Superintendent Doug Blackwood presented compelling findings from the Hotspot Action Fund. Over the past year, Humberside Police identified 24 hotspot areas across the region. Increased police presence in these areas led to a 6.25% reduction in serious violence and 924 fewer incidents of all crime.

Key takeaways included:

• Be visible – High visibility deters crime.
• Be observant – Stay alert to patterns and vulnerabilities.
• Be engaging – Build trust through positive public interactions.

Researching Trust and Confidence in Policing

“We wanted to shine a light on underrepresented communities, including young people.”
- Dr Nicola O'Leary, Reader in Criminology, University of Hull

Dr Nicola O’Leary shared findings from a research project titled 'Community Insights into GRIP Hotspot Policing.' The study, conducted in collaboration with the Humber VPP, seeks to understand whether GRIP hotspot policing improves community trust and confidence.

Her presentation emphasised the importance of co-production with communities, particularly those who are often underrepresented in policy discussions.

Focused Deterrence and Positive Pathways

“We want to give young people access to positive support and local services.”
- Kirsty Barr, Programme Officer at the Humber VPP

Kirsty Barr introduced the concept of focused deterrence - a strategy that combines clear communication about the consequences of violence with robust support systems to help people choose a different path. According to the Youth Endowment Fund, it has a high impact on violent crime.

She also announced an upcoming collaboration with St John Ambulance, aimed at providing young people with practical skills and support networks.

Navigators: Listening, Supporting and Transforming

“The most important thing is taking time to listen to people.”
- Helen Longstaff, Emergency Department Navigator

The Navigators team - Helen Longstaff, Shona Nicholson and Emma Lansdowne - shared powerful stories from their work in hospitals across the Humber region. Their role is to offer confidential care, guidance and practical advice to young people affected by violence.

One of the most striking improvements has been in Information Sharing to Tackle Violence (ISTV). At first, only 30% of incidents recorded a location. Now, that figure has now risen to over 70%. This data is crucial for identifying patterns and targeting interventions.

The team also shared case studies of two young people admitted to hospital with violence-related injuries. Through building trust and consistent support, the Navigators helped them access services including housing, substance misuse support and financial advice.

Youth-led Research and Action

“Young people bring a unique, firsthand understanding of what strategies are most effective within their communities.”
- Peer Action Collective (Tigers Trust)

Lewis Doyle and Abbie Brown from the Peer Action Collective (PAC) presented their research into the barriers preventing young people from accessing positive activities. Their findings included:

• Financial barriers to participation
• Lack of safe, inclusive spaces
• Peer pressure and the need for adult support

PAC empowers young people aged 16 to 25 to lead social action projects based on their lived experiences. Their work spans shaping school policies, improving mental health services and co-creating violence reduction strategies. Supported by the Youth Endowment Fund, the #iwill Fund and Co-op, PAC is a powerful example of youth-led change in action.

Expanding the Public Health Approach

“We want to expand the public health approach to other sectors.”
- Dawn Foster, Director of We Do Wellbeing

Dawn Foster discussed the importance of de-escalating violence at all levels through a public health approach. She also introduced We Do Wellbeing’s trauma-informed training including the Violence Prevention & Reduction Education Pathway.

The Humber VPP is looking forward to collaborating with Dawn on the national pilot for the Violence Prevention and Reduction Health Champion Qualification. This programme will empower young people to become peer mentors in violence reduction.

Data-Driven Decision Making

“We want to better help the cohorts most at risk of being involved with serious violence.”
- Ian Robertson, Data and Analysis Manager at the Humber VPP

Ian Robertson and Donna Hamlett presented the Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) - a cornerstone of our partnership’s evidence-based approach.

The SNA translates complex data into actionable insights, helping partners understand the nature and drivers of serious violence in the Humber region. It also informs the design and evaluation of interventions so resources are targeted where they are needed most.

Looking Ahead

Our Partnership Conference was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities and professionals come together with a shared purpose. 

From youth-led research and trauma-informed care to data-driven policing and public health strategies, the event showed a region united in its commitment to preventing violence.