Work
The Centre for Evidence Based Youth Services undertakes applied research to reduce serious youth violence, criminal exploitation and vulnerability. Our work is grounded in partnership with statutory agencies, community organisations and policymakers, ensuring that evidence informs real-world practice.
Evidence and Gap Map: Serious Youth Violence
This Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) examines the effectiveness of community-based interventions designed to respond to serious youth violence among young people aged 10–24 in high-income countries.
The map identifies studies that evaluate violence reduction interventions delivered in community (non-criminal justice) settings to young people with a history of serious violence or chronic offending.
Despite an extensive literature search, we identified very few high-quality evaluations targeting this high-risk group. This stands in contrast to previous prevention-focused mapping undertaken by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), which identified a substantial body of evidence relating to primary prevention.
The findings highlight a significant gap in rigorously evaluated community-based interventions for those most at risk of violence and exploitation. This work provides an important foundation for policymakers and service planners seeking to develop evidence-informed responses.
Child Criminal Exploitation Screening Tool (Northern Ireland)
Child criminal exploitation (CCE) remains a hidden and complex harm. Although research demonstrates clear links between exploitation and wider vulnerabilities, there are currently no validated tools to identify those most at risk.
In partnership with the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Education Authority (EANI), the Centre is co-designing and testing a screening tool to identify and reduce vulnerability to CCE.
The project is currently in the implementation phase (2026), with a prototype under pilot evaluation. Initial findings are expected in summer 2026.
Y-BOX: Violence Prevention for Young Men
In response to the limited availability of evidence-supported interventions for young men, the Centre worked with the Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) to design and test a new model of engagement around violence and masculinity.
The resulting intervention — Y-BOX — is research-informed and practice-driven. Since initial development and pilot testing, approximately 100 youth workers have been trained in the model, with implementation and evaluation ongoing.
Twin Sight: Network Analysis and Youth Violence
How can network analysis help reduce youth violence?
Twin Sight is an evidence-informed approach to understanding criminal and pro-social networks, particularly in cases of criminal exploitation where social dynamics are often poorly understood.
As part of a North–South research programme, researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have adapted the Twin Sight approach (building on the Greentown Study, 2016–2026, conducted in the Republic of Ireland) to develop a model for implementation in Northern Ireland.
Working alongside the Police Service of Northern Ireland, this project seeks to improve understanding of how violence spreads within local communities and how it can be disrupted earlier and more effectively.
Childhood Experience and Pathways into Prison
Decades of research show that childhood adversity and positive life experiences shape long-term outcomes, including mental health, addiction, justice involvement and mortality. However, much of the evidence comes from small or general population samples.
This study addresses that gap by examining the lived experiences of individuals across the prison estate in Northern Ireland.
Using a mixed-methods design combining surveys and interviews, the project will explore how childhood experiences create pathways into — and potentially out of — crime, violence and vulnerability.
The study commenced in January 2026, with findings due in late 2026.
Embedded Community-Level Responses to Child Criminal Exploitation (Europe)
Spanning multiple European contexts, this project examines embedded community-level youth work responses to child criminal exploitation.
Using a public health framework that conceptualises CCE as both a symptom and driver of wider social harms, the research focuses on how practitioners intervene when children and young people are already exposed to exploitation.
Objectives include:
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Identifying promising embedded community practices
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Understanding intervention at points of active exploitation
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Generating evidence to inform policy and practice across Europe
Early findings are expected by summer 2026.
Gender-Conscious Violence Prevention for Girls and Young Women
Girls and young women experience violence and victimisation in distinct ways. Despite this, there are few evidence-supported, gender-conscious intervention models tailored to their needs.
Working alongside professional youth workers, the Centre is co-designing and testing a new model of engagement focused on violence and victimisation among girls and young women.
The project will involve co-design, pilot testing and refinement beginning in early 2026, with reporting expected in autumn 2026.
Co-Located CAMHS and Youth Justice Model
Justice-involved children and young people often experience elevated mental health needs, yet many do not receive adequate support.
In partnership with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the Youth Justice Agency (YJA), this project evaluates a co-located model of working in which therapists and youth justice professionals operate within shared environments.
The Centre is supporting both agencies to assess whether and how this approach reduces vulnerability and improves outcomes.
The project commenced in early 2026 and will report in summer 2026.