System Change working with Essex Police
Building Safer Pathways for Young People
Over the past year, the Active Essex Foundation (AEF) has significantly deepened its presence and influence within the Criminal Justice System. Through sustained partnership working, particularly with Essex Police, AEF has become a trusted strategic contributor to crime reduction, early intervention, and youth support across the county. What began as early exploratory collaboration has evolved into a strong, consistent and respected relationship that now shapes both local and national approaches to supporting vulnerable young people.
Active Essex Foundation’s growing involvement spans a wide range of advisory, operational and frontline activities, from diversion panels and youth safety campaigns to co‑designing projects and delivering specialist training. This integrated approach has strengthened early intervention pathways and embedded physical activity and youth voice into the systems that surround young people most at risk of criminal exploitation.
Building Stronger Systems for Young People
Strengthening Referral Pathways
AEF has created trusted routes for police officers to refer vulnerable young people directly into positive, sport‑based lifeskills programmes that provide safe alternatives to exploitation.
Shaping Early Intervention Strategy
By contributing to key decision‑making forums, including Education & Diversion Panels, Outcome 22 discussions, Young Futures Prevention Panels, VAWG initiatives, and community policing planning, AEF now influences how early intervention is delivered across the county.
Building Positive Police, Youth Relationships
Activities such as Boxing Intervention Harlow, Ballin’ with a Bobby, and Community Goals football provide safe spaces where officers and young people connect through movement, improving trust and engagement.
Developing Specialist Knowledge Across the System
Through HYDRA immersive county lines training, AEF supports both its own workforce and partners to better understand complex exploitation risks and frontline realities.
Empowering Youth Voice Nationally
AEF’s role in the UK Children’s Parliament and the Positive Action Roadshow strengthens youth representation, particularly for young people from disadvantaged communities.
Supporting Overlooked Young Women
The Under the Radar programme, co‑designed with Essex Police, ensures that girls and young women affected by hidden exploitation receive tailored support.
Improving Access and Mobility
By refurbishing bicycles in partnership with Essex Police Property Stores, AEF has enabled young people to travel safely to school, interventions, work and volunteering.
Overall, these contributions reflect a shift from external partner to embedded, trusted system influencer.
Key learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future
Trust Builds Access
AEF’s consistent approach built trust and opened doors.
Partnerships
- Essex Police
- National County Lines Co ordination Centre
- College of Policing
- Local Violence & Vulnerability Unit
- Community organisations and trusted delivery partners
The credibility gained from this close relationship with Essex Police has opened doors across the Criminal Justice System. This level of access is rare for a community-focused organisation and has:
- Strengthened Active Essex Foundation’s position when engaging with safeguarding and social care partners
- Accelerated system change, embedding physical activity within early intervention frameworks
- Increased external confidence in the impact and reliability of Active Essex Foundation programmes
What Are the Next Steps in Our Partnership?
Active Essex Foundation will continue to build on this strong foundation by deepening its operational involvement with Essex Police, scaling sport based diversion pathways into additional districts. The team will also support the delivery of national initiatives, while continuing to embed Under the Radar and other targeted interventions to strengthen early intervention and prevention work across the county.
