SOUTH YORKSHIRE INVESTS IN ACCESS TO TRUSTED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Published 29 July 2026 at 10:10am

Children and Young people are set to benefit from specialist resources designed to help them learn about personal safety, well-being, positive relationships and the law.

The South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has purchased ‘Pol-Ed’, a nationally recognised educational programme with tailored lessons for each age group on a range of topics designed to support them and provide information to help them make the right choices.

The investment will enable schools, colleges, alternative provision settings, youth organisations and community groups across South Yorkshire to access a wide range of high-quality educational resources, helping young people make informed choices and stay safe.

Pol-Ed is currently used by police forces across the UK and has already reached more than 1.8 million children and young people. South Yorkshire is now one of 19 force areas committed to delivering the initiative. The programme provides free lesson plans, guidance for assemblies and teaching resources, developed by education specialists and policing experts, covering topics including relationships, keeping safe, understanding the law and well-being.

As part of the rollout, the VRU and South Yorkshire Police, will work closely with education establishments and community organisations to ensure the resources are widely available and accessible to young people in every part of South Yorkshire.

The programme supports a preventative approach to community safety, providing trusted information and encouraging positive engagement between young people and public services. All lessons are aligned to the revised statutory RSHE curriculum and wider PSHE guidance, created by education and policing experts’ as to make it clear it is aligned to requirements within schools.

Kilvinder Vigurs, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in South Yorkshire, said: "We are committed to giving children and young people across South Yorkshire the knowledge, confidence and support they need to make positive choices and stay safe.

“Pol-Ed is a fantastic resource that enables us to engage with young people on issues that matter to them, from personal safety and well-being to understanding the law and their rights and responsibilities.

"By investing in Pol-Ed and working alongside schools, colleges, youth services and community organisations, we can ensure that more young people benefit from high-quality, evidence-based education that helps them thrive. This investment reflects only one element of our commitment to prevention, early intervention and creating safer, stronger communities across South Yorkshire. We have also provided significant funds to community groups to provide out of school activities."

Kelly Wilson, Head of the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit, said: "Providing children and young people with access to trusted, high-quality information is a key part of preventing harm and supporting positive outcomes.

“By commissioning Pol-Ed across South Yorkshire, we are ensuring that schools, youth organisations and community groups have access to consistent, evidence-informed resources that help young people navigate the challenges they may face both online and offline.

"We know that early intervention and education play a vital role in reducing vulnerability and building resilience. Pol-Ed gives professionals access to engaging, age-appropriate content that can spark important conversations, increase understanding of risk and support young people to make informed decisions throughout their lives."

The programme has been launched to head teachers and there has already been significant take up and use of the lessons in just a few weeks. The Violence Reduction Unit and South Yorkshire Police will work with partners across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield to promote the programme, support registration and encourage widespread use of the resources throughout the region to encourage the lessons to be rolled out to children and young people from September.

The initiative forms part of a broader commitment to prevention and early intervention, helping young people build resilience, understand risks and access reliable information from trusted sources.

Schools and organisations will be able to access a growing library of resources through the Pol-Ed platform, supporting delivery of PSHE, citizenship and safeguarding education. The programme is free for schools to use and offers flexible, curriculum-aligned content developed by education professionals.

PolEd will be presenting to community organisations at the next Preventing Violence Forum on 23 September and conferences for schools will take place in October/November. To sign up to the events or to find out more, please email the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit SYVRU@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk.