Understanding a Public Health Approach to Serious Violence

Serious violence continues to impact individuals, families, and communities across the UK. Traditional enforcement-led models alone have not been sufficient in reducing harm or addressing root causes. Increasingly, the public health approach has gained traction as a strategic framework for understanding and responding to serious violence in more holistic, preventative ways.

This course explores how applying a public health lens can help professionals and organisations develop long-term, sustainable strategies to reduce violence by tackling its underlying causes, including poverty, trauma, exclusion, and inequality.

Participants will gain an understanding of:

• The principles of a public health approach to violence prevention
• How violence spreads within communities and the role of early intervention
• The importance of multi-agency collaboration, data-sharing, and community engagement
• Practical case studies from local areas applying public health frameworks
• The relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), social disadvantage and patterns of serious violence

Through a mix of expert insight, frontline perspectives, and interactive discussion, attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to implement preventative, person-centred approaches in their own services.

Ideal for:

• Violence reduction unit teams and safeguarding professionals
• Youth justice and probation practitioners
• Social workers and early help teams
• Public health professionals and policy advisors
• Police, community safety and neighbourhood teams
• Education, housing, and community development workers

Key Takeaways:

• What defines a public health model of violence prevention
• How trauma, inequality and marginalisation drive serious violence
• Examples of successful, place-based public health interventions
• The power of data, partnerships and community voice in designing effective responses
• Tools to begin embedding this approach into local strategy and frontline practice

Additional Benefits:

• Strengthen multi-agency working and shared responsibility for harm reduction
• Build confidence in adopting preventative frameworks beyond enforcement
• Gain insight into scalable models that address serious violence as a societal issue, not just a criminal one

This course is essential for professionals and leaders committed to shifting from reactive models to evidence-informed, holistic approaches that tackle serious violence at its roots.

Please note: this venue is not suitable for anyone with reduced mobility or who has difficulty with stairs, as there is no lift access. Attendees will need to use the stairs to reach the session.

REGSITER FOR THIS EVENT DIRECTLY WITH THE LDHUB FOR CHEAPER RATES!