Decision details

The DfE has made available grant funding to establish SAFE Taskforces in 10 local authority areas across the country, as part of the cross-government Beating Crime Plan published in July 2021, which announced investment in specialist support in schools in serious violence hotspots to support young people at risk of involvement in violence to re-engage with education.

The primary intervention to be funded through this grant is Educational Inclusion Mentoring, which will be delivered predominantly by the East Area Inclusion Partnership (AIP). This provision will run from September 2022 to March 2025, with an agreement start date in June 2022 to allow for recruitment of Mentors. Some provision will also be delivered by way of cooperation agreements with the other four AIPs.

In the absence of the Director of Children and Families and the Deputy Director, Learning, the Deputy Director, Children & Families Social Work Service approved the award of cooperation agreements as below for provision of Mentoring services to support young people at risk of involvement in violence to re-engage with education.

The commencement date of the cooperation agreements is subject to the timescales in which the DfE can arrange for release of funds for this element of the programme: it is hoped this will be July/August but could be September. The cooperation agreements will expire on 31/03/2025:

a)  The East AIP for the value of £1,180,583

b)  The North-East AIP for the value of £191,167

c)  The North-West AIP for the value of £191,167

d)  The South AIP for the value of £191,167

e)  The West AIP for the value of £191,167

The Leeds SAFE Taskforce has been established with all key stakeholders to be represented, including schools. Consultation has been taken and will continue throughout the programme with schools, including AIP Chairs. 

AIP chairs representing schools in the East and North-West of the City; Safer Leeds; West Yorks Violence Reduction Unit; Leeds CAMHS; West Yorks Police; Leeds Youth Justice Service; virtual School Head; Educational Psychology; third sector organisations; wider Leeds schools Heads.