Sheffield Together Preventing Serious Violence

Sheffield Together is developing a new Preventing Serious Violence Strategy and Action Plan for the city. This work sits within Sheffield's wider Reducing Crime and Disorder Strategy and is being led through the Safer Sheffield Partnership, which brings together organisations from across the city to improve community safety and wellbeing. The strategy will provide a shared plan for how partners, communities and residents can work together to prevent serious violence, address its underlying causes and create safer neighbourhoods for everyone. It also supports Sheffield's responsibilities under the Serious Violence Duty and will help ensure that existing activity across the city is better connected, co-ordinated and focused on making the biggest difference.

Over the past year, we have been listening to people across Sheffield, including residents, community organisations, statutory partners and young people. Through surveys, conferences, workshops and engagement activities, people have shared their experiences, concerns and ideas for change. The feedback gathered is helping to shape the priorities, commitments and actions that will form Sheffield's new strategy and action plan. The aim is to build on the great work already happening across the city, strengthen partnership working and ensure that the voices of communities help influence decisions and future actions.

What We Have Heard So Far

So far, people have told us that preventing serious violence is everyone's responsibility and that no single organisation, service, community or agency can tackle it alone. We have heard that people want stronger partnership working, earlier support for children, young people and families, more opportunities for young people to thrive, and a greater focus on the wider issues that can contribute to violence, including poverty, exclusion, trauma, mental health and inequality. Young people have also highlighted the importance of safe places, trusted adults, addressing concerns around knife crime, feeling able to speak up and understanding the impact of online life and social media.

We have also heard a strong message that communities should be at the heart of developing solutions. People want organisations to listen more, work together better, share information effectively and build on the strengths that already exist within Sheffield's neighbourhoods. There is a clear ambition to move beyond responding to incidents and instead focus on prevention, early intervention and supporting people before harm occurs

Your voice matters. We want to hear from people who live, work, study or volunteer in Sheffield. By sharing your views, experiences and ideas, you can help shape how the city prevents serious violence and creates safer, stronger communities for everyone.

What we have heard so far

So far, people have told us that preventing serious violence is everyone's responsibility and that no single organisation, service or community can tackle it alone. Communities want to see stronger partnership working, earlier support for children and families, more opportunities for young people, and a greater focus on the wider factors that can increase the risk of violence, such as poverty, exclusion, trauma, mental health and a lack of positive opportunities. Young people have highlighted the importance of feeling safe in their neighbourhoods, having trusted adults to turn to, addressing concerns around knife crime, feeling confident to speak up, and understanding the impact of online harms and social media.

We have also heard a strong message that local communities should play a central role in shaping solutions. People have told us that successful prevention relies on listening to those with lived experience, investing in communities, sharing information more effectively, and building on the many strengths that already exist across Sheffield. While challenges remain, there is a shared commitment to work together to create safer neighbourhoods, reduce harm and ensure that children, young people and communities can thrive.

During the consultation and engagement programme the voices, insights and ideas were captured by an illustrator took visual notes, these can be found in the Consultation & Engagement Documents linked.

This is a conversation, not a consultation. We want to continue listening to the people who know Sheffield best. Whether you are a resident, community group, business, volunteer, parent, professional or young person, your experiences and ideas can help shape Sheffield's approach to preventing serious violence and creating safer communities for everyone.

Sheffield Together is developing a new Preventing Serious Violence Strategy and Action Plan for the city. This work sits within Sheffield's wider Reducing Crime and Disorder Strategy and is being led through the Safer Sheffield Partnership, which brings together organisations from across the city to improve community safety and wellbeing. The strategy will provide a shared plan for how partners, communities and residents can work together to prevent serious violence, address its underlying causes and create safer neighbourhoods for everyone. It also supports Sheffield's responsibilities under the Serious Violence Duty and will help ensure that existing activity across the city is better connected, co-ordinated and focused on making the biggest difference.

Over the past year, we have been listening to people across Sheffield, including residents, community organisations, statutory partners and young people. Through surveys, conferences, workshops and engagement activities, people have shared their experiences, concerns and ideas for change. The feedback gathered is helping to shape the priorities, commitments and actions that will form Sheffield's new strategy and action plan. The aim is to build on the great work already happening across the city, strengthen partnership working and ensure that the voices of communities help influence decisions and future actions.

What We Have Heard So Far

So far, people have told us that preventing serious violence is everyone's responsibility and that no single organisation, service, community or agency can tackle it alone. We have heard that people want stronger partnership working, earlier support for children, young people and families, more opportunities for young people to thrive, and a greater focus on the wider issues that can contribute to violence, including poverty, exclusion, trauma, mental health and inequality. Young people have also highlighted the importance of safe places, trusted adults, addressing concerns around knife crime, feeling able to speak up and understanding the impact of online life and social media.

We have also heard a strong message that communities should be at the heart of developing solutions. People want organisations to listen more, work together better, share information effectively and build on the strengths that already exist within Sheffield's neighbourhoods. There is a clear ambition to move beyond responding to incidents and instead focus on prevention, early intervention and supporting people before harm occurs

Your voice matters. We want to hear from people who live, work, study or volunteer in Sheffield. By sharing your views, experiences and ideas, you can help shape how the city prevents serious violence and creates safer, stronger communities for everyone.

What we have heard so far

So far, people have told us that preventing serious violence is everyone's responsibility and that no single organisation, service or community can tackle it alone. Communities want to see stronger partnership working, earlier support for children and families, more opportunities for young people, and a greater focus on the wider factors that can increase the risk of violence, such as poverty, exclusion, trauma, mental health and a lack of positive opportunities. Young people have highlighted the importance of feeling safe in their neighbourhoods, having trusted adults to turn to, addressing concerns around knife crime, feeling confident to speak up, and understanding the impact of online harms and social media.

We have also heard a strong message that local communities should play a central role in shaping solutions. People have told us that successful prevention relies on listening to those with lived experience, investing in communities, sharing information more effectively, and building on the many strengths that already exist across Sheffield. While challenges remain, there is a shared commitment to work together to create safer neighbourhoods, reduce harm and ensure that children, young people and communities can thrive.

During the consultation and engagement programme the voices, insights and ideas were captured by an illustrator took visual notes, these can be found in the Consultation & Engagement Documents linked.

This is a conversation, not a consultation. We want to continue listening to the people who know Sheffield best. Whether you are a resident, community group, business, volunteer, parent, professional or young person, your experiences and ideas can help shape Sheffield's approach to preventing serious violence and creating safer communities for everyone.

Page published: 29 Oct 2026, 10:02 AM