Scope
Description
London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is seeking to commission a Research Partner to collaborate on an important research project aimed at assessing the landscape of tertiary support[1] available to young Londoners impacted by interpersonal violence - both statutory and non-statutory.
In recognition of the importance of embedding community voice and lived experiences throughout the research process, the VRU are commissioning both a research partner and a community partner to work in collaboration. This approach ensures the research appropriately and meaningfully reflects the experiences of those it aims to serve and that research findings will be relevant and informed. The community partner contract has been awarded to Wipers Youth CIC after a competitive tender process.
Wipers Youth are a social enterprise which provides youth provision for young people, with specialism in working with disenfranchised and marginalised young people. Their range of services includes Specialist Mentoring, Workshops & Programmes, Employability, Youth Voice & Policy. Their tertiary support focuses on young people transitioning away from offending or at risk of re-engagement due to community tensions, unstable housing or peer associations.
Referrals come through local Probation, Youth Justice Services, safeguarding and community partners and their delivery spans across multiple boroughs including Westminster, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Islington, Camden, Newham, Ealing and others.
We are seeking to commission a research partner who understands the nuances of the criminal justice system and existing services aimed at supporting young people who are most impacted by interpersonal violence, and who genuinely understand the lived experiences of young people most impacted by violence. The researcher must take a trauma-informed and culturally competent approach, ensuring the research is non-extractive and supports the young people involved.
This project will involve two core elements:
Building a London-specific Evidence Base for Tertiary Provision: Development of a London-specific evidence base to improve the effectiveness of services and organisations in engaging those most at risk of violence. This includes a needs assessment of tertiary provision in London, a review of the existing literature, gathering insights young people who have experienced the support systems (statutory and non-statutory).
Systems change: Facilitating learning and developing recommendations for statutory services and commissioners relating to improving provision and engagement for youth at risk of interpersonal violence in London.
In close collaboration with the community partner, the role of the research partner will involve:
Holding the project management responsibility of the project
Convening and facilitating the Systems Stakeholder Learning Group
Ensure the voices of those most impacted by violence and the systemic barriers to support are embedded within the research in a trauma-informed and non-extractive way
Co-design research questions, methodology and participatory research methods
Conduct primary and secondary research, utilising qualitative and quantitative analysis in line with the research methodology established
Co-designing research outputs that reflect community needs
This collaborative commissioning approach underlines the VRU's commitment to partnership, inclusivity, and ensuring research outcomes genuinely inform policy and commissioning decisions. The findings will help to shape more effective, responsive tertiary support services for young people affected by violence across London.
We invite researcher provider(s) who are committed to producing research which aims to genuinely understand the lived experiences of young people most impacted by violence, with particular interest in researching structural inequalities and tertiary provision, to produce insightful, sensitive and actionable findings which meaningfully inform policy and practice.
The value of the contract is £52,500, duration 12 months from the contract award date; estimated commencement date March 2026.
1 Tertiary support is defined by the World Health Organisation as: 'approaches that focus on long-term care in the wake of violence, such as rehabilitation and reintegration, and attempts to lessen trauma or reduce the long-term disability associated with violence. Tertiary prevention also seeks to prevent further acts of violence'.
Clarification deadline is the 12th January 2026. Clarification received after this date will not be considered.
Deadline for submission of tenders is the 21th January 2026 by 1pm, tenders should only be submitted via Delta.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-services./3M423U5JC8
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
Total value (estimated)
- £52,500 excluding VAT
- £63,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 March 2026 to 1 March 2027
- 1 year
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73110000 - Research services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 January 2026, 5:00pm
Tender submission deadline
21 January 2026, 1:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Criterion 1 | Quality | 100% |
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - open competition
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Mayors Office For Policing And Crime
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTMT-7816-YCQG
169 Union Street
London
SE1 0LL
United Kingdom
Email: vruprocurement@london.gov.uk
Region: UKI44 - Lewisham and Southwark
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government