SW!TCH Communities

Building a lasting community response to Serious Youth Violence.

It takes a village to raise a child.

But knife crime is destroying the heart of our communities.

SW!TCH on the Hill

Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, we’re working with local people to bring long-term change to Harold Hill in Havering!
See what we're doing in Harold Hill
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SW!⁠TCH Communities helps local people introduce positive change into their neighbourhoods.

No two areas are ever alike—that's why our team works closely with local people of all ages and cultures to build a complete picture of the issues their neighbourhood is facing and how they can combat and resolve these issues.

Local people leading change

In order to have a lasting effect, the local community—particularly its young people—must be at the heart of positive change.

Stronger community connections

Regular meet-ups, events, and engagement with the community to help forge new relationships across different generations.

Activities for young people

A range of engaging activities —including both physical and creative—provide a positive outlet for young people and a chance to gather their views on the area.

A local response

Co-ordination between community leaders and professionals to highlight local needs, share plans, and form a response group to drive change.

Find our SW!⁠TCH Communities team in and around

Barking and Dagenham

Redbridge

Tower Hamlets

Havering

Want to be a part of something?

Looking to get more involved in your community?

Leave us your details below and a member of our team will be in touch shortly with more information about how to join in!

Want to join in?

Looking for something fun to do?

Check out our full timetable of activities to see when our SW!⁠TCH team are out and about in your area!

Check timetable

Interested in bringing SW!⁠TCH Communities to your area?

Leave us your details and a member of our team will be in touch with more information about how SW!⁠TCH Communities can be delivered.

By positioning local people at the forefront and guiding them to drive change in their area, we’re building a strong and resilient community that will last for years to come. It’s only with this truly joined-up approach that we can guide young people away from dangers like knife crime.

Ian Kane
SW!TCH Communities Manager, LifeLine Projects

Recent updates about SW!⁠TCH Communities

See all updates

Prevention: the primary tool for school readiness

September is a month of transition for many young people. After the summer break, children and young people return to education, often to new teachers, new routines, new expectations and, for some, an entirely new school. We tend to think of this simply as going back to school, but transitions can be much more significant than we realise.

2 days ago

 by Nathan Singleton

Linda’s Story: From isolation to influence

When Linda first came to one of our sessions, she carried a lifetime of challenges with her. Having spent much of her childhood in care, she arrived in her early thirties with no family support network in the UK and very few people she could rely on. Years of abandonment and disappointment had left their mark—she often struggled to trust...

2 days ago

 by LifeLine Comms Team

Launch of SW!TCH On The Hill continues support for Harold Hill communities

More than 100 people joined LifeLine Projects for the launch of SW!TCH On The Hill, a new community initiative bringing local residents and organisations together in Harold Hill. The launch event took place on Saturday 22nd August at the MyPlace Youth and Community Centre, where residents were invited to find out more about local services, share their views about the...

5 days ago

 by LifeLine Comms Team

Is youth voice enough?

Recently, we asked a group of young people we support a simple question: what do you wish adults understood about being young today? Their answers covered many of the subjects we might expect: social media, mental health, education, employment, lockdown, independence, the future. As I listened, I found myself reflecting on something that has become increasingly prominent across our sector—youth...

4 weeks ago

 by Nathan Singleton

See all updates
London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Redbridge
Supported by Mayor of London

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