VIOLENCE PREVENTION
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Dialogue & body language
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Managing stress & anger
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Conflict management
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De-escalation
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Knife crime
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Viewing, making & sharing content
SELF-DEFENCE
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Awareness
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Personal space
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Creating distance
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Breakaway techniques
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Age appropriate
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No striking/hitting
PERSONAL SAFETY
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At home
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Online
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Out & about
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Decision making
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Peer pressure
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Anti-social & risk taking behaviour
Escalating Behavioural Crisis in Welsh Schools and Communities
Alarming Statistics: A Snapshot
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6,446 violent incidents reported in Welsh schools during the 2023/24 academic year (NASUWT Cymru), up from 4,714 in 2022/23 – a 37% increase.
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53% of teachers are considering leaving the profession due to violence and aggressive behaviour.
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Teachers are reporting a "pupil behaviour emergency" and a "deepening behaviour crisis".
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Reports of physical assaults on teachers are significantly impacting staff well-being and retention.
Broader Social Indicators
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Hospital admissions for 0–17-year-olds following assaults with sharp objects have increased.
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Rising number of 10–17-year-olds being cautioned or convicted for violent offences.
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105% increase in child mental health referrals since 2017, suggesting a deep-rooted mental health crisis.
Analysis: Interconnected Crises
This isn’t just a school issue—it’s a reflection of a wider societal breakdown in mental health, family stability, and youth services:
1. Post-Pandemic Trauma and Mental Health
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Lockdowns, bereavement, disrupted education, and social isolation have left many young people struggling with emotional regulation, trauma, and anxiety.
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Many schools lack the resources to manage these complex needs, and CAMHS services remain overstretched.
2. Pressure on Teachers and School Systems
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Teachers face physical danger, emotional strain, and a lack of institutional support.
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Staff shortages, increased responsibilities, and poor behaviour management resources are driving burnout and attrition.
3. Youth Violence and Knife Crime
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More young people are engaging in or becoming victims of serious violence, potentially linked to gang activity, poverty, and social media-fuelled conflicts.
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The rise in knife-related hospital admissions is particularly concerning and reflects real danger in communities.
4. Policy and Preventative Gaps
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Cuts to youth services, early intervention programmes, and mental health care over the past decade have left a vacuum.
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Schools are being tasked with managing societal problems without adequate funding or training.
YSW 3 POINT SAFETY SYSTEM
WHO WE ARE
YOUTH SAFETY WALES is dedicated to equipping young people with the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe. Our mission is to prevent violence and injury by educating and empowering communities through personal safety workshops, conflict resolution and violence prevention programmes with optional self-defence training. A leader in developing and delivering universal education and targeted interventions with proven success.
YOUTH SAFETY WALES is a registered, approved and licensed centre with the National Federation of Personal Safety. Instructors are qualified and approved, delivering a specialised curriculum of safety education.
Our governing body, The British Martial Arts and Boxing Association oversees the professional excellence of our organisation including training in first aid and safeguarding.
Instructors hold a clear enhanced DBS Certificate and are registered with the Education Workforce Council, the independent professional regulator of education workforce in Wales.
WHAT WE DO
YOUTH SAFETY WALES delivers a range of impactful programmes to help young people stay safe, build confidence, and make informed choices. We offer one-off sessions, school assemblies, and structured six-week programmes, all tailored to the specific needs of the groups we work with.
Our content is developed in close collaboration with young people, educators, and professionals, and is fully aligned with the Areas of Learning and Experience outlined in the new Welsh curriculum.
YSW 3 Point Safety System
Our 3 Point Safety System offers practical, easy-to-follow guidance focused on:
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Situational Awareness
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Conflict Management
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Safe Decision-Making
This framework helps young people navigate real-life situations with confidence and clarity.
Supporting Families
We work alongside parents and carers to help them understand the challenges their children may face. By equipping families with relevant knowledge and tools, we support them in fostering a safer environment at home and in the community.
Self-Defence Education
Our self-defence programmes are co-designed with young people, school leaders, and professionals to be age-appropriate, non-aggressive, and fully trusted by educational institutions. We provide clear, credible information on the dangers and legal consequences of violence, while teaching students how to:
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Build personal confidence
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Avoid becoming a target
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De-escalate potential conflict
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Evade physical threats safely