Online Harms Digital Youth Work Pilot Programme

Description

The London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is undertaking a virtual market engagement exercise Wednesday 5th August 2026 @ 10am , via MS Teams, to inform the commissioning of the Online Harms Digital Youth Work Pilot Programme. The London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is committed to understanding the factors that place children and young people at risk of violence, exploitation and harm, and to working collaboratively with partners to deliver long-term, sustainable solutions. We work across communities and sectors, including youth services, local government, education, health, policing and the voluntary and community sector, championing a public health approach that combines prevention, early intervention and effective support for those experiencing the greatest levels of risk and vulnerability. At the heart of our approach is the belief that violence is preventable, not inevitable. We recognise, however, that many children and young people are already navigating the impacts of trauma, exploitation, abuse and complex community dynamics. As such, our work seeks not only to prevent harm before it occurs, but also to strengthen the systems, services and trusted adults responsible for safeguarding, supporting and intervening with those most affected. Central to this approach is a commitment to partnership working, evidence-informed practice and ensuring that the voices, experiences and expertise of young people and communities shape the solutions designed to support them. The Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is seeking to engage with the market in advance of a forthcoming procurement opportunity relating to the delivery of its flagship Digital Youth Work Pilot Programme. The programme forms part of the VRU's wider public health approach to violence reduction and sits within a London-wide model developed following extensive consultation with young people, practitioners, safeguarding professionals, academics and sector experts. Digital life brings clear benefits for many children. Ofcom found that 99% of 13–17-year-olds see at least one benefit to being online, including help with schoolwork, learning new skills and maintaining social connections. 93% of children in the UK play video games, and children report that gaming helps them socialise with friends, learn new skills and have fun, with most online interactions taking place with friends they already know offline. At the same time, the VRU is concerned that these same digital environments expose children and young people to a wide range of harms and risks. Digital safety is increasingly a public safety and public health concern. Children and young people are navigating identity, relationships, influence, exploitation and conflict across interconnected online and offline environments. However, systems, services and safeguarding responses have often struggled to keep pace with the rapidly evolving nature of digital spaces. This matters for the VRU because online harms do not sit separately from wider concerns about violence, vulnerability, exploitation and safeguarding. The VRU is seeking delivery partners to pilot innovative Digital Youth Work (DYW) approaches across London that drive new models of engagement with young people and promote safeguarding in digital spaces. The VRU is seeking approaches that: Design, deliver and test new or existing digital youth work models Extend trusted, relationship-based youth work into digital environments Strengthen early intervention, prevention and safeguarding online Generate learning, insight and practical outputs to strengthen future activity The programme aims not only to deliver effective pilot activity, but also to contribute to sector-wide innovation and the development of scalable models of digital youth work across London. Scope of delivery The programme will be structured into three complementary lots: Lot 1: Supporting High-Need and Digitally Dependent Young People Testing approaches that improve accessibility and engagement for young people who face barriers to traditional provision, including SEND. Lot 2: Early Intervention and Prevention of Online Harms Testing models that enable early identification, prevention and response to online risks, with a focus on safeguarding and preventative practice of deterring online to offline violence. Lot 3: Universal Digital Youth Work and Positive Opportunities Exploring how digital youth work can foster connection, creativity, play, participation and digital citizenship for all young people. Bidders may apply for one, two or all three lots. Applications may be submitted by individual organisations or as partnerships/consortia. Target Audience The programme will focus on delivering digital youth work to children and young people aged 11–25 across London, including but not limited to: Young people at higher risk of being impacted by online harms Those facing barriers to traditional youth provision, including SEND and young people who may be more digitally dependent and/or digitally excluded Young people experiencing vulnerability linked to violence, exploitation or disadvantage Young people with caring responsibilities Young people in the care system Young people affected by Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) The wider youth population through universal provision Potential delivery settings and workforces may include, but are not limited to: Community-based youth organisations and youth services Detached, outreach and neighbourhood-based provision Faith and community organisations SEND and disability-focused youth provision Organisations supporting young people experiencing vulnerability, exclusion or barriers to traditional youth provision Specialist services working with young people affected by violence, exploitation or online harms Informal education, mentoring and participation-based youth provision Indicative Outcomes The programme is expected to contribute to: Increased engagement of young people in safe, supportive digital environments Improved accessibility of youth work for young people who do not traditionally engage with youth work and are digitally dependent and/or digitally excluded) Strengthened early identification and prevention of online harms in the digital space Increased use of technology to foster positive opportunities Strengthen young people’s digital citizenship Increased workforce confidence and capability in incorporating digital youth work into traditional practice and safeguarding policy Development of scalable models, guidance and practical tools A stronger London-wide evidence base on digital youth work and online safety Timeframe and Budget The maximum estimated budget for this programme is up to £650,000 excl. VAT over a full contract period from November 2026 – March 2029, subject to confirmation of funding, internal governance and relevant approvals. This comprises: £390,000 core funding across the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years from November 2026 to March 2028 An extension option of up to £260,000 for a further 12 months from April 2028 The VRU welcomes bids from individual organisations as well as collaborative partnerships and consortia. We recognise that expertise may be distributed across different organisations, and we encourage applications that bring together complementary skills, knowledge and experience. Providers do not need to demonstrate strength across every area independently, provided that the partnership as a whole can evidence the required expertise and capacity to deliver the programme. This may include, for example, combining specialist knowledge in DYW, supporting SEND or neurodiverse children, digital safety, contextual safeguarding, fostering positive digital opportunities, and preventative violence reduction approaches. Market Engagement / Response The VRU welcomes engagement from organisations with expertise in: Youth work and youth engagement Digital youth work Gaming, AI, technology Safeguarding and contextual safeguarding Online harms, exploitation and violence prevention Working with vulnerable and hard-to-reach young people Youth participation and co-production Learning, evaluation and evidence generation If you are interested in the opportunity and meet the core capabilities as set out above, then please join us for our early market warming event on Wednesday 5th August 2026 at 10:00AM. Attending the early market warming session does not constitute a commitment to participate in any future procurement process. The Eventbrite link for market warming session can be found here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-vru-online-harms-digital-youth-work-pilot-market-warming-session-tickets-1994744836503?aff=oddtdtcreator Please note that this exercise is in no way a call for competition and will not result in the award of a contract to any respondents to this notice. If have any further questions about this opportunity, please contact: vruprocurement@london.gov.uk