Critical Trajectories: Reflections on the 2026 NHS Violence Reduction Academy Symposium

On November 5th, 2026, the NHS Violence Reduction Academy held its third annual symposium at the Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre in London. Under the theme "Critical Trajectories," the event brought together clinicians, researchers, and system leaders to examine the pivotal moments where violence and health interact - and to advocate for a transition from reactive, targeted interventions toward a cohesive, whole-systems approach to violence prevention.

It was a challenging yet profoundly inspiring day, deftly organized by the Academy’s Clinical Lead, Michael Carver. The event reinforced a guiding philosophy shared by all in attendance: "Violence is preventable, not inevitable." 

The symposium opened with Professor Martin P Griffiths CBE, who set the tone for the day with both the necessary gravity and the sensitivity required to discuss such a complex public health challenge. The program highlighted that violence reduction is a multi-faceted issue that demands a multi-agency response.

Nadia Butler (Liverpool John Moores University) provided a compelling evidence base, presenting findings from an online study of 2,500 young adults. Her data mapped the cumulative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on health-related quality of life, illustrating the substantial economic benefits of early intervention and trauma-informed policy.

A recurring theme throughout the day was the importance of early intervention. Kath Evans (Barts Health NHS Trust) reminded delegates that the conditions leading to violence begin far earlier than we might often assume, underscoring the vital role healthcare plays from neonatal care through to adulthood.

This theme of holistic support was echoed by Florence Kroll CBE (Greenwich Children’s Services). Drawing on sobering lessons from thematic safeguarding reviews, she urged the sector to shift from "sequential safeguarding" to a more cumulative, network-based approach. Her session highlighted the critical need for leadership that recognizes the lived experiences of young people across education, health, youth justice, and social care systems.

The day was marked by a spirit of pragmatism. We explored the potential of oracy and "Rights-Respecting" approaches in schools to strengthen belonging and safety, led by the London Violence Reduction Unit. We also engaged with session leaders - including the charity YourStance - who move the conversation from theory to practice by equipping young people with the CPR and hemorrhage-control skills to potentially save lives before emergency services arrive.

At SafeTeam, it is a good day when no alarms go off.
It is hard not to be moved and impressed by the culture of care and the immense "upstream" effort being applied to ensure that they don’t.

We are grateful to Michael Carver, all the speakers, and partners including the London Violence Reduction Unit and Queen Mary University of London for a day of deep insight. This symposium has provided a clear roadmap: we can do better, and we will. We look forward to continuing to support the frontline teams working tirelessly to build a safer, more resilient health system.