About this Event
Background
The Harmful Practices Knowledge Ambassador Programme, funded by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), has provided a two-year platform for Barnardo’s National FGM Centre (NFGMC) and a consortium of by-and-for organisations to strengthen responses to harmful practices affecting children, young people and families across London. The programme’s achievements have been recognised through nominations in two Children & Young People Now Awards categories: Safeguarding and Partnership Working.
Our partners are: MEWSO, IKRWO, La Fraternite, FEWP, Jewish Women's Aid, SEEAC, ESP Foundation, The Sharan Project, and Integrate.
This conference will bring together community organisations, statutory partners, policymakers and practitioners to reflect on the programme’s achievements, share learning and evidence, and explore opportunities for future collaboration. It will celebrate the contribution of sector leadership and partnership working in strengthening prevention, improving responses and driving sustainable change.
Taking place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the annual campaign running from 25 November to 10 December to end violence against women and girls (VAWG), the conference also provides a strategic opportunity to position harmful practices within the wider VAWG agenda. This year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Ensure justice, protect survivors, end impunity”, offers a timely platform to highlight the importance of prevention, early intervention, survivor-centred approaches, community leadership and effective multi-agency responses.
A central focus will be the evidence and learning generated through the programme, including the launch of research undertaken in partnership with the University of East London, examining the role of digital technologies in shaping harmful practices; exploring how online spaces can contribute to the transmission, reinforcement and, in some cases, resurgence of harmful practices, while also creating opportunities for challenge, prevention and community action.
Together, the programme’s learning, evaluation findings and emerging research provide an opportunity to inform the wider VAWG agenda and demonstrate the contribution of sustained investment in partnership-based approaches to longer-term systemic and cultural change. The conference will build on this evidence to consider how learning can be applied in practice, inform future approaches and strengthen collective efforts to prevent and respond to harmful practices.
Purpose
The conference aims to showcase the impact, learning and legacy of the Harmful Practices Knowledge Ambassador Programme, demonstrating how capacity building, community leadership and partnership working can strengthen responses to harmful practices and improve outcomes for children, young people and communities affected by these forms of violence.
Through presentations from programme partners, findings from the programme's evaluation, and new research from the University of East London, participants will gain a deeper understanding of effective approaches to prevention, safeguarding and community engagement. Interactive workshops will support delegates to translate programme learning and emerging evidence into practical action, strengthened partnerships and improved responses within their own organisations and communities.
Aim
To celebrate and share the impact and learning of the Harmful Practices Knowledge Ambassador Programme, demonstrating how community-led approaches, capacity building and effective partnership working can contribute to the prevention of harmful practices and strengthen the wider response to violence against women and girls.
Objectives
The conference aims to:
- Showcase the achievements, impact and learning generated through two years of programme delivery.
- Highlight the value of investing in third sector and by-and-for organisations to strengthen responses to harmful practices, improving outcomes for children and young people.
- Share findings from the programme's evaluation and explore the factors that contributed to successful outcomes.
- Launch and disseminate research on the role of digital technologies in shaping, reinforcing and challenging harmful practices and its impact in children and young people.
- Promote effective partnership working between community organisations, statutory agencies and specialist services.
- Amplify the expertise, voices and contributions of community leaders, practitioners and survivors.
- Share practical approaches, resources and examples of good practice that can inform future policy, commissioning and service delivery.
- Strengthen networks and collaboration between organisations working across the harmful practices and VAWG sectors.
Event venue & nearby stays
Great Hall, King's College London, Strand, London, United Kingdom
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