Youth violence summit: follow-up meeting minutes: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

• First Minister
• Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
• Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
• Minister for Victims and Community Safety
• Minister for Children and Young People
• Cross-party MSPs
• CoSLA
• Scottish Government
• Scottish Violence Reduction Unit
• Medics Against Violence
• YouthLink Scotland
• Youth Scotland
• Intercultural Youth Scotland
• Heavy Sound
• CLD Managers Scotland
• Includem
• Scottish author
• Police Scotland
• Education Scotland
• Aid and Abet
• Centre for Good Relations

Items and actions

Is the behaviour of young people changing, and what do young people themselves say is needed?

• while the overwhelming majority of young people are not involved in the recent increase in violence among under-16s, the influence of social media has altered behaviour and amplified issues such as online bullying and toxic masculinity
• peer pressure often drives young people into online spaces where violence is normalised, with damaging messages suggesting that non-violence or an inability to achieve wealth equates to weakness. Violence and misogyny had been ‘commodified’, in that “if young men are not violent, they are cowards; if they are not millionaires, they are failures.” This environment highlights the urgent need for positive male role models, especially where poverty, substance use, and mental health issues increase risks of carrying weapons
• mental health discussions have become more open among young people, although young women seek help at twice the rate of young men, who often face increased stigma
• one organisation had observed a rise in self-medication, including increased ketamine use among younger teens
• the erosion of traditional territorial boundaries for young people and gangs, compounded by lockdown-related social isolation, has complicated intervention efforts, necessitating both targeted and universal approaches
• a Young Scot survey3 suggests many young people feel unsafe on the streets – whereas some young people perceive the streets as safer than home
• some young people carry weapons out of fear rather than intent
• social media provided the opportunity for violence to be planned and organised in advance. • Despite an overall decline in youth violence, its nature is shifting—with a higher proportion of younger children and more females involved—prompting calls for improved data collection, better information sharing, and inter-agency collaboration
• crucially, there was broad agreement on the need for safe, trusted spaces for young people, needed during the day and night and over the weekends, and for actively involving them in shaping policies and interventions, underscoring the belief that early prevention ultimately saves future costs

Schools and education

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs then invited the Cabinet Security for Education and Skills to comment

The Education Secretary noted that:

• society in general had changed, not just young people. The world has become a lot more unstable and can for many, particularly young people, be intimidating. Hopelessness for the future was an issue for many, especially for young people
• despite misconceptions that school exclusions were no longer permitted under the National Action Plan4, this is not the case. The number of exclusions were falling, which is considered positive, but it is recognised that this has consequences for schools. Exclusions can also be problematic, resulting in children being exposed to other risks in communities
• in some cases, children as young as primary 4 were acting violently. It is believed lockdown has impacted directly on their childhood development. Dysregulation in pupils is resulting in behaviour, that at times is making engagement very challenging
• social media has contributed to the development of a youth sub-culture that may be alien to many adults
• there is a need to look broader than schools and community based responses are required
• for many young people, particularly those most vulnerable, school provides a safe space
• the school estate was large and there was a substantial education workforce. It is important that we ask and identify how else we can ensure that national guidance for schools is utilised in seeking to tackle these issues

School-based initiatives/ideas

Participants around the table shared their reflections and experiences of effective interventions in schools.

• the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme: is active in 234 secondary schools—with participation in every local authority—and involves over 6,000 young peer educators delivering around 6,200 sessions. It is viewed as a powerful method for violence prevention
• Gender Violence Conference: Renfrewshire hosted a conference attended by 200 young people to address gender violence, which was highlighted as a positive example of youth engagement
• targeted and collaborative approaches: In areas experiencing spikes in violent behaviour, a targeted approach is recommended. Involving young people early and could involve creating a charter or toolkit — could be seen as crucial for effective school and community collaboration
• the Medics Against Violence education program: Which informs young people about the medical implications of violence through NHS volunteer support, is considered very positive, though it faces challenges with volunteer availability. Additionally, the “On the Edge” program, where boys with challenging behaviour spend 5–6 months with a dedicated youth worker at school, has proven effective in boosting self-confidence and positively transforming behaviour. For the participants, the school experience had become a very positive one. This was a relatively low cost early intervention initiative
• addressing vulnerability: It was acknowledged that traditional schooling does not always meet the needs of children affected by inter-generational trauma, poverty, or neurodiversity. A more nurturing approach is needed for these at-risk groups— sometimes referred to as “Fireworks Kids”— to prevent disengagement and potential future offending
• family and multi-agency collaboration: Emphasis was placed on the importance of working with families, especially in areas affected by poverty, and on establishing multi-agency partnerships with effective data sharing to support vulnerable youth and their communities

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs then invited the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to comment

The Minister noted that:

• the Scottish Government have established an Online Safety Taskforce explaining that although many of the powers are reserved, the Scottish Government is taking action where it can
• the Cashback for Communities programme includes funding for projects which provide safe spaces for young people and evaluation suggests these work well

What else is needed to tackle violence affecting young people?

The discussion supported a twofold approach:

Promoting Positive Lifestyles:

• young people should be encouraged not only to avoid harmful behaviours such as carrying of knives and substance abuse but also to pursue positive aspirations — such as engaging in sports or other leisure activities that build a hopeful future
• safe spaces, such as those provided by the Easterhouse GP practice, and supportive services from organisations like Aid and Abet (staffed by those with lived experiences of the criminal justice system) were highlighted as positive examples

Re-thinking responses to violence:

• youth violence was not going to be solved by a single body or single intervention
• there was concern raised about a focus on “punishment,” which may stigmatise a small minority, instead of addressing the societal factors that contribute to such actions
• the role of social media was critically noted, as algorithms can steer young people toward violent content. There was a recognised need to get on top of the algorithms in social media that could encourage young people to engage in violent content
• while current legislation on weapon carrying is considered adequate, it was agreed that tackling youth violence requires more than legal prohibition—it demands early intervention, social-emotional learning, and community engagement
• this holistic approach includes involving families and establishing safe, diversionary activities in schools and communities. There are examples of this across different local authorities. Councils need to provide adequate diversionary tactics, something for young people to do, with services and safe spaces needed consistently
• the question was raised that we need to understand why the problem of violence amongst under 16s is happening in the first place and how can young offenders be identified as early as possible
• new legislation was felt to be not needed, and local authorities didn’t need Scottish Government to ringfence funds but required a more holistic approach applied across the board
• behaviours are changing amongst young people and views expressed young people value leaders with lived experience

Conclusions

The meeting was of the shared, collective view that our young people are a national asset and the overwhelming majority of young people do not engage in violent behaviour. There was broad agreement that influences such as social media pressures, toxic masculinity, and poverty continue to play a significant role in driving violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues. There is a noted rise in the proportion of violent incidents perpetrated by those under 16, particularly in the post-COVID context.

Participants stressed the vital need for consistent, long-term safe spaces where young people can access supportive and non-judgemental adults, which reflects the needs young people themselves express. The discussion underscored the importance of enhancing family and community support and building strong, positive relationships with young people as part of an ongoing commitment to prevention and early intervention in ending violence against children.

Close

The meeting concluded by emphasising the need for robust community support and strong, positive relationships with young people. Despite public funding being tight, successful initiatives are being demonstrated across communities, yet further proactive measures focused on prevention and early intervention are essential to address violence among young people.