London's Violence Reduction Unit: Educational Outcomes Research on Black and Somali Children

The Violence Reduction Unit is seeking to commission research which will inform the VRU's approach to tackling disproportionalities, exclusions in schools, promoting positive educational outcomes for marginalised young Londoners. The research will contribute to an equitable strategy for reducing vulnerabilities to violence affecting young people.

The research will focus on young Black and Somali men and children of all genders in order to better understand the challenges they face individually, as a community and socio-politically within the UK. Findings are expected to cover a breadth of topics including but not limited to spirituality, race, housing, health, wellbeing, SEND, social mobility, education, biological inequity, and the PRU to prison pipeline.

The contract period is 2 months from 1 February- 31st March, and the Supplier would be expected to achieve the following:

• To use a community-led approach, centering the Black & Somali community, to identify gaps in research and alternative principles for community-centred research approaches as related to educational outcomes, biological inequity, and the quality of life for racially marginalised communities.

• To conduct and collect qualitative & quantitative data from user-led exploratory conversations with young people & adults from Black and Somali backgrounds in the community.

• Contextualise findings with a literature review on relevant theory and practice to influence policy and make recommendations for sustainable equitable change.

Value: The maximum value is £50,000 for the lifetime of the contract

If you are interested in this opportunity and can deliver within the timescales specified, please email VRUProcurement@london.gov.uk by 5th January 2023 with your contact details.