Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

I am fundraising to support the Barts Charity Trauma Appeal, with a specific focus on raising funds towards a Violence Reduction Nurse post at the Royal London Hospital. In addition to working with young victims, the intention is for the postholder to publish PhD research to demonstrate the positive impact of the approach. The goal is to provide evidence to secure long-term backing for the programme, as well as a resource to help replicate the initiative in other hospitals across the UK.

Partners Wealth Management has adopted Barts Health Violence Reduction Service  as our first ever charity of the year. We’re excited to be working with them during 2018-2019 to make a real difference to the lives of young people affected by violent crime in London.

Knife crime is the rapidly rising issue facing UK cities in general and London specifically. By working with stab victims at the moment they will listen – post life saving surgery – the Barts VRS team help them not return to the culture of violence.

From 2010-17, the team at Royal London saw a 20% increase year-on-year in trauma cases  with victims getting noticeably younger. In the 12 months to July 2017, violent crime involving a knife rose by a third in London as a whole. Statistics suggest that, once treated and discharged, vulnerable young people are highly likely to be stabbed again or go on to inflict violent injuries on others.

Inspired to change the future for the young people he was treating, Martin founded the Barts Health Violence Reduction Service– the UK’s first programme which offers specialist ward-side intervention. From the moment young people are admitted to the hospital – at their most vulnerable and open to change – the violence reduction efforts begin and will continue after discharge. The Barts Health Violence Reduction Service, in partnership with other agencies and charities, has spearheaded efforts to counsel, educate and reintegrate young people back into society, breaking the cycle of violence.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT MARTIN’S WORK

As a result of the programme, there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of young people readmitted with violence-related injuries – falling from 45% to less than 1%. Not only are lives being saved, they are being transformed, with clear and significant benefits for our whole society.