Empowering Professionals Connecting Communities
Ending Youth Violence.
About Us
Serious Youth Violence Network (SYVN) was born from a simple but powerful belief: we can do more to prevent serious youth violence—and we must do it together.
In 2014, a group of frontline practitioners came together after completing the Training the Trainer qualification in Working with Gangs and Youth Violence (WWGYV) at University College Birmingham. This was part of the EU-funded Gangs Project, and from it emerged a thriving community of practice—a space where professionals collaborated, shared learning, and co-designed resources to better respond to the crisis facing our young people.
This grassroots movement quickly became a hub for innovation: delivering training, running conferences and workshops, and researching effective interventions. But in 2018, a major shift occurred—UCB discontinued the WWGYV course and other related programmes. Rather than letting the work end there, one of our founding members, Teswal White, stepped up.
Through his organisations—ACT CIC and Alkhami Consultancy & Training Ltd—Teswal redeveloped the qualification for online delivery, opening it up to a global audience. Since then, over 200 practitioners from the UK, the Eastern Caribbean, Australia & Canada have completed the course. Many have gone on to lead their own projects, influence policy, and drive change in their communities. The course has received national recognition for its impact.
As graduates connected and supported one another, a new network began to form—one rooted in shared experience, lived knowledge, and a passion for change. That informal movement evolved into something more.
In 2024, we launched the Serious Youth Violence Network (SYVN) as an official platform to carry the mission forward.
Today, SYVN is a growing community of changemakers—equipping professionals, training organisations, and empowering communities to prevent serious youth violence through education, collaboration, and action.
We’re not just responding to violence. We’re building hope.
We’re not just offering training. We’re creating a movement.
And we’re just getting started.
“We believe the only way to end youth violence is to prevent it before it begins”.
We see a world where every community is safe from serious youth violence, equipped with the knowledge, tools, and resources to prevent it effectively.
Our mission is to end youth violence by connecting and empowering professionals and organisations with the skills and strategies needed to create lasting, positive change in communities and the lives of young people.
We believe that prevention is the key to ending youth violence. This can only be achieved when communities are fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to effectively respond to, tackle, and prevent youth violence before it begins.
We are dedicated to upskilling and connecting frontline practitioners, professionals, and communities to navigate the complexities of serious youth violence. Our goal is to empower and connect 10,000 practitioners, professionals, and community leaders by 2033.
Our Values: P.E.A.C.E
Prevention-Focused:
We prioritise proactive, evidence-based approaches to prevent youth violence before it escalates.
Empowering Change:
We empower individuals and communities with the tools and support needed to drive lasting change.
Advancing through Accreditation:
We provide accredited qualifications to ensure professionals have the expertise to address youth violence effectively.
Community-Centered Collaboration:
We bring together professionals, organisations, and communities to create tailored, united solutions.
Education for Prevention:
We believe education is key to equipping professionals and communities to prevent youth violence.
Become Part of the Serious Youth
Violence Network Today
Whether you’re an individual practitioner or an organisation devoted to making a meaningful difference, we invite you to become be part of SYVN today. Together, we can address the issues of gangs and serious youth violence, and create safer and stronger communities for all.