London's VRU Housing support for Young People experiencing Extra-Familial Harm

Expressions of Interest for Housing support for Young People experiencing Extra-Familial Harm

The London’s Violence Reduction Unit are inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified Providers capable of delivering:

The co-development of tools for recognising and responding to Extra-Familial Harm (EFH) in local authority housing assessments, and explore how EFH can be identified in local authority housing needs assessments and responses. Emerging evidence suggests EFH drives housing insecurity, leaving young people unsafe at home and in their communities while struggling to access housing support that meets their needs. In response, local authorities are looking for consistent ways to identify and evidence EFH in housing decision-making. Alongside developing tools, the provider will strengthen capability across housing, safeguarding and community safety to recognise EFH’s housing impacts and support informed, consistent decision-making.

Despite growing recognition, there is no consistent framework for recognising EFH in housing assessment and provision. Local authorities face increasing pressure to assess EFH-related housing needs with finite resources, while services often lack confidence in recognising and assessing EFH within statutory duties. Addressing this gap is essential to support consistent, evidence-informed decisions and timely access to appropriate accommodation, strengthening housing as a safeguarding response that prevents violence, reduces harm, and improves outcomes for young people.

The provider will use rapid mixed methods and co-production. This research will combine policy analysis, analysis of serious case reviews, stakeholder engagement and qualitative research with local authorities, youth practitioners, and young people. Serious case reviews will examine housing-related risks and safeguarding failures, while qualitative research will identify barriers and opportunities and improve understanding of EFH-related housing risks and needs. Young people and partner organisations will contribute throughout to ensure outputs are credible and practical.

The following work packages will be delivered:

Work Package 1 (Months 1–2): Evidence and policy review.

Work Package 2 (Months 2–3): Understanding current practice. Interviews and workshops with housing officers, community safety practitioners, youth workers, housing providers and violence reduction partners will examine practice, barriers to evidencing EFH-related housing needs, and opportunities to strengthen practice.

•Output 1: Work Packages 1 and 2 will produce an evidence and policy gap analysis and theory of change to inform development of the needs assessment tool and response framework.

Work Package 3 (Months 3–5): Co-development of the needs assessment tool and response framework. Young people, practitioners and project partners will participate in co-design activities to identify indicators of EFH relevant to housing decisions, evidence requirements, decision-making thresholds and referral pathways.

•Output 2: A prototype EFH needs assessment tool and response framework to support consistent assessment of EFH-related housing risks and needs, accompanied by trauma-informed training materials for delivery

Work Package 4 (Months 5–6): Implementation planning. Stakeholder workshops with local authorities, NHYC, housing providers and the VRU to refine the prototype and develop plans for piloting, evaluation and wider adoption.

•Output 3: An implementation roadmap setting out recommendations for piloting, governance, workforce development, evaluation and scale-up.

All outputs are intended for immediate use on completion of the six-month project. This will inform the London VRU’s housing agenda on violence prevention

We are seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from organisations with experience of:

-Working with young people with experience of violence or high levels of harm

-Engaging and working with local authorities to codesign tools

-Codesign with stakeholders including young people and practitioners

-Safeguarding processes for young people

-Research relevant to young people

-Research relevant to housing

-Research relating to housing challenges faced by young people who have experienced violence

The aim of this Expressions of Interest is to:

1.Allow the market visibility of the proposed opportunity;

2.Gauge interest from providers that have the capability, capacity and availability to deliver the services within the timelines outlined in this notice before launching any formal tender opportunity.

Please note this is a market testing exercise and does not commit the London VRU to carry out a procurement process.

Submission of your Expression of Interest

Suppliers must complete the MS Forms questionnaire to submit their interest in the advertised opportunity. The closing date to submit your response is 31st October 2026.

Estimated Total value £60,000

Estimated contract dates 1st Jan 2027- 30th June 2027