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Scope

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 拢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:

拢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 拢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 -

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 [at] london.gov.uk

For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:

Total value (estimated)

• 拢780,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

• 2 November 2026 to 31 March 2028
• Possible extension to 31 March 2029
• 2 years, 4 months, 29 days

Description of possible extension:

Optional 12 month extension

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

• 71354100 - Digital mapping services
• 80310000 - Youth education services
• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Contract locations

• UKI - London

Lot 1. Supporting high-need and digitally dependent young people

Description

Test and develop Digital Youth Work approaches that improve accessibility, inclusion and engagement for young people who face barriers to traditional provision, particularly those with SEND, neurodiverse needs or higher levels of digital dependency.

Lot value (estimated)

• 拢260,000.40 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.

Lot 2. Early intervention and prevention of online harms

Description

Test Digital Youth Work approaches that strengthen early identification, prevention and safeguarding responses to online harms, vulnerabilities and online-to-offline risks.

Lot value (estimated)

• 拢260,000.40 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.

Lot 3. Universal digital youth work and positive opportunities

Description

Explore how Digital Youth Work can foster connection, belonging, creativity, participation and positive opportunities for children and young people through universal and strengths-based approaches.

Lot value (estimated)

• 拢259,999.20 including VAT

Same for all lots

CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.

Participation

Particular suitability

Lot 1. Supporting high-need and digitally dependent young people

Lot 2. Early intervention and prevention of online harms

Lot 3. Universal digital youth work and positive opportunities

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
• Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Submission

Enquiry deadline

29 September 2026, 3:00pm

Tender submission deadline

14 October 2026, 1:00pm

Submission address and any special instructions

Tenders may be submitted electronically

Yes

Languages that may be used for submission

English

Award decision date (estimated)

1 November 2026

Award criteria

Other information

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure

Special regime

Light touch

Contracting authority

Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime

• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTMT-7816-YCQG

169 Union Street

London

SE1 0LL

United Kingdom

Contact name: VRU Procurement

Email: vruprocurement [at] london.gov.uk

Region: UKI44 - Lewisham and Southwark

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government