the science of violence
building personal and community resilience
mission
to reduce the impact of violence on our young people our communities and ourselves
Science of Violence is an innovative training consultancy empowering practitioners in the social care and criminal justice sector to work safely and effectively with challenging behaviour and complex needs.
Science of Violence was founded by Dinah Senior a pioneer of trauma-informed practice in the serious youth violence sector with over fifteen years’ experience of designing and delivering violence reduction interventions and known for her dynamic capacity building work in communities disproportionately affected by escalating violence.
“I would literally recommend this training to everyone from youth professionals down to the man/woman at the bus stop.”
context
Sadly there is no shortage of research demonstrating that violence is on the rise across the UK, and that we are failing as a society to protect victims of violence in particular when those victims are children.
"The warning lights are flashing" Metropolitan Police Commissioner, January 2017
00000
32448
knife crimes reported (2016)
00000
37784
incidents of self-harm recorded in prisons in England & Wales (2016)
00000
99609
rapes reported (2016)
33%
percentage of rape crisis users under the age of 25
1in20
children in the UK sexually abused
increase in violent crime in London and South East (2016)
“What an experience. I have learned so much , thank you for creating a safe space for such amazing work.”
aims
72%
72% of children released from custody go on to reoffend (Barnardos 2014)
50%
50% of children in youth custody come from the foster or residential care system(Lord Laming Review 2016)
34%
34% of children in custody have a mental health disorder (Barnardos 2014)
“I have gained so many tools and models to draw from and my awareness of self and the impact I can have on others is priceless. Thank you.”
services
Science of Violence provides bespoke psychodynamic training and consultancy for public sector agencies, charities, front line practitioners and vulnerable communities as well as general audiences interested in building resilience to violence in all its forms from bullying to violent crime.
Learning outcomes for training programmes and workshops can be provided on request, competitive rates apply.
“This training opened my eyes to the kind of things young people might share. Exposure to that alone makes me better equipped to listen and respond to young people’s experiences.”
portfolio
The Harrow Club W10 - Training, Consultancy & Supervision
Delivery of practitioner skills training and reflective supervision for Another Way the UK’s first late-night provision for young people involved in criminal exploitation. Developed in partnership with The Harrow Club W10 and funded by the Mayor’s Young Londoners Fund.
Another Way is a unique piece of work building capacity at the heart of the uniquely traumatised community surrounding Grenfell Tower. It is a community-led and culturally-sensitive intervention staffed by an intergenerational team of youth workers, practitioners and volunteers trained to engage with young people at serious risk of harm using a trauma-informed approach.
“Another Way would not have been possible without the knowledge and expertise brought to the table by Science of Violence. Dinah has played a key role in bringing stakeholders together to create a community response to knife crime that continues to exceed all expectations. We cannot recommend her highly enough.”
Bedford Youth Offending Service - Training
Delivery of serious youth violence training empowering a multi-agency team across Bedford Youth Offending, Early Help, Social Services and Children Services to engage positively and effectively with young people caught up in cycles of violence and exploitation. Working experientially with current case studies this training looked closely at the importance of a relational trauma-informed approach to challenging and violent behaviour.
“Science of Violence went the extra mile to ensure that this training was pitched at the right level for our staff who are already familiar with many of the issues related to exploitation and violence facing young people today. They created many opportunities for us to reflect on ourselves and on our approach to these challenges and we are already putting the exercises they shared with us into our groupwork with young people. In our team’s evaluation 96% of participants said they would recommend the training to their colleagues and 73% said they felt it would improve their ability to form positive relationships with young people displaying challenging behaviour. Big thanks to Dinah and her team for their energy, expertise and enthusiasm.” Guy Wiseman, Advanced Practitioner, Bedfordshire Youth Offending Service
The 4Front Project - Training & Supervision
Delivery of practitioner skills training and reflective supervision for The 4tify Project, a dynamic front line project working to increase the safety and resilience of young people living on the Grahame Park Estate, London NW9.
The 4Front Project is a multiple award-winning youth-led social enterprise on a mission to empower young people and communities to live free from violence. The 4Front Project was founded by Temi Mwale, a tireless social entrepreneur, educator and activist committed to building resilience in vulnerable communities and empowering the next generation to create change.
“The training made me think about trauma and about my own relationship with violence in a much deeper way. I highly recommend it to anyone working in the front line.”
Luton Youth Offending Service - Training
Delivery of Shame Reframe training to the Luton Youth Offending Service in Bedfordshire supporting their multi-agency team towards a trauma-informed approach focussing on the power of shame-aware communication to improve engagement with young people affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and criminal exploitation.
“The four theories of violence were very useful, they helped put shame into perspective and made me think about the impact we have on the young people we work with.”
London Borough of Waltham Forest - Mentoring Programme
Development of community mentoring and employment access project in partnership with voluntary sector agencies Community Turf, KNI Foundation and The Asian Centre funded by the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF) as part of its Gang Prevention Programme Enough is Enough and positively evaluated by Cordis Bright.
Design and delivery of practitioner skills training for intergenerational multi-faith groups of community mentors in LBWF wanting to work with young people affected by gang association, serious violence, child sexual exploitation and radicalisation.
“The work delivered by Community Turf and Science of Violence is so obviously vibrant and effective.”
team
Featured
“This training has had a lasting impact on me in my personal life as well as and the way that I now work professionally. ”
Contact
If you would like more information about Science of Violence services or you would like to help fund a capacity building project in the community please contact us using the details below.
We look forward to hearing from you and to making a difference together.
Dinah Senior
07904 128278
dinahsenior@gmail.com