Access to Psychological Therapies for Children At Risk of Violence

Colleagues from across children’s services and the youth justice system are invited to join a Virtual Learning Café run by the Youth Endowment Fund.

Children and young people at risk of involvement in violence can face fragmented and difficult-to-navigate systems spanning education, health, social care, youth justice, and the voluntary sector.

In this session, we will share key findings from our recently published report into how children and young people involved in, or at risk of, serious youth violence in England and Wales access mental health support — and how that access can be improved. The multi-strand project combined a rapid evidence review, analysis of public data, and interviews and focus groups with over 100 professionals, young people, and families. It was part of our wider partnership with the Department for Education, exploring how the systems around children — from schools to health services — can either protect or expose them to risk.

The session will be led by the lead author Dr Abigail Bentley, a social scientist with expertise in violence/trauma, mental health, systemic exclusion & access to services for marginalised groups.

The event will run online using MS Teams on Wednesday 19th November 2025, 15:00-16:00.