I got up early to beat the heat. Not crazy fast but I won’t lie - am feeling knackered, hot and (yes) a little smug.

This was the week I got called cool by Idris Elba. As a generally uncool chap (I mean, who says 'chap'?), this came as a bit of a shock. I think I may retire. How did it happen? Well ... (1/6)

How do we reduce violence? Two articles in the Economist provide hope! 1. Violence almost halved in some parts of US over last year. Why? The Economist thinks targeted support & police focus on those most involved in group-based violence is the key, through a programme called Focused Deterrence.

Good day today. Great to see YEF’s call for change across Guardian, Telegraph, BBC, Independent, Evening Standard. Violence is not inevitable. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Great to see these bold youth violence prevention systems and policy recommendations. Those of us in the drugs field should be making similar calls for evidence-based prevention and population-level early intervention investment. Prevention work is not a 'nice to have', but a 'must have'.

Today, YEF publishes our "Education Policy, Children and Violence" report. 8 affordable, deliverable policy, inspection and regulation changes that will reduce violence. Full report here: youthendowmentfund.org.uk/reports/educ... Summary below 👇

📍 Research shows that violence is concentrated in a small number of places. In England & Wales, 50% of violent crime happens in just 2% of locations - 'hotspots'. That’s why targeting resources where violence happens most makes sense. youthendowmentfund.org.uk/reports/key-... #KeyFactsAboutViolence

Tough decision by the Met, but I'm sympathetic. Money v tight, so prioritise most proven approaches. That means 1. More youth workers than police in schools. 2. More police officers in the places where children are most likely to be victims (normally not schools).

Early start. Off to SkyNews to talk about this heartbreaking story. We have to make sure any new investment in children’s services helps provide support to parents and children like this 👇 news.sky.com/story/parent...

Standing room only at Youthwork conference hosted by Youth Endowment Fund and National Youth Agency. Powerful start from the Minister for Young People, Muna and Prince from our Youth Advisory Board, and words from Leigh and I as CEOs of the two charities. All compered brilliantly by Ben Lindsay.

Won’t lie - that hurt! Trained for last 10 weeks to try it. Almost gave up half way round … … my fastest 5k yet 🏃‍♀️🍾

📣 We've launched a podcast!! 📣 Want less violence? SAFE is the podcast for you. 🎙️ Episode 1: Ciaran Thapar talks with Carlene Firmin about how we can change social work to keep all our children safe. Listen and subscribe: youthendowmentfund.org.uk/safe-podcast/

Ofsted has a new interim chair. He's a trained teacher, became a head, led schools in tough areas, his schools that are now THE BEST in the country for social mobility. Incidentally, he's a muslim. What bit do you think the Telegraph decided to focus on? Utterly disgraceful.

A real pleasure to speak today at the @niesrorg.bsky.social . Super thoughtful group of people! Thanks so much for having me.

Should we ban pointed Kitchen Knives to reduce knife crime? Mad idea or genius idea? Should be an absolutely fascinating discussion. Happening online tomorrow at 1pm. Sign up here and come along: youthendowmentfund.org.uk/events/the-c...

Could round-tip kitchen knives cut knife crime in half? 🤔 This will be our discussion point in tomorrow's webinar - 'The case for banning sharp ended knives'. Join @jonyates.bsky.social with experts Graham Farrell & Toby Davies who will present their research and arguments. 👉 buff.ly/9Oi8rQN

📢 We’re sharing a new report that offers practical guidance for organisations aiming to deliver effective and equitable Focused Deterrence strategies in England & Wales. The guidance is aimed at the delivery of FD to reduce serious violence involving children and young people. buff.ly/XmwZCTa

“They came for the starving, and I said nothing as I was not starving.” The demolition of USAID was an evil act. Some angry thoughts 👇(1/5)

🚨 ONE WEEK TO GO! 🚨 On 6th March, Whole Education & Schools of Tomorrow are bringing together school leaders in London, to explore the vital role of schools as centres of community with keynotes from @jonyates.bsky.social & Darren McGarvey. https://buff.ly/4if1xyw #EducationLeadership

How do we cut violent crime? Looking forward to talking at NIESR on this in a couple of weeks. Do come if of interest 👇

Great job Monsieur Macron

Brexit and anti-Brexit was last decade's story for the UK. It was a story about immigration, sovereignty and trade. The next decade's story is about security. It doesn't care how you voted in 2016. It has only one answer: Europe.

Off to SkyNews to discuss tomorrow morning’s front pages (live at 10.30 and 11.30). Any one guessing what will be on them?

Short story: Was on Sky News last Friday. 2 strangers sent feedback. Person 1: Just saw you on ITV News - you were brill. Person 2: Just saw you on GBNews - you were rubbish. Not quite sure what the moral is.

🚨 How about giving a young person a career break at very low cost to you as an employer?? 🚨 We're expanding the subsidised Summer Jobs programme. If your organisation is passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people, click to read more:

Big report today on BBC about phone bans in schools. I would encourage a lot of caution in concluding much from the study. Three main reasons: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Well done BBC website, well done.

Zombie Knife Ban: What do young people think ? We found differing views amongst our Youth Advisory Board. Worth a read 👇https://youthendowmentfund.org.uk/four-months-on-zombie-knife-ban-has-it-made-a-difference/

🚨Fantastic new job 🚨available if you're good at overseeing finances and planning (last one on the webpage. Be part of a team determined to find how we end violence involving young people in the UK. youthendowmentfund.org.uk/careers/

You lose 80% of your heat through your head, right. Right? 👇

The best thing about freedom is being able to mock dictators (including ex-dictators).

Latest Fractured Thoughts now out. 3 thoughts you can read in 3 minutes for free. This week: Why do we believe stupid things? Are we in denial about vulnerability? And the latest Good News or Bad News? (link in reply)

@clairecnwl.bsky.social, Jon Yates here - ex-lead policy adviser at DfE. I lead the Youth Endowment Fund (a bit like NICE but for reducing violence affecting young people). I'd love to send you a message about something - would you mind temporarily following me so I could contact you?

To children safe from violence we must keep them in school. Good to see this new mentoring support to get children safely back to school. V pleased YEF is evaluating the work. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Latest Fractured Thoughts is out. 3 thoughts in 3 minutes. This week: Can you govern without prose? What stories should non populists tell? And where are the easy problems hiding? (link in reply)

Latest Fractured Thoughts is out. 3 thoughts in 3 minutes. This week: Can you govern without prose? What stories should non populists tell? And where are the easy problems hiding? (link in reply)

Dear independent schools sector, you sometimes claim that the state sector could learn a lot from you. How about proving it? Simply get your pupils to sit SATs at start of year 7. Then we can compare how much progress your pupils make vs the state sector.

YEF today published data that shows that 1 in 3 teens in relationships face violence. Clear summary of what we found and what can be done here 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thread. A worrying report and yet another rising issue colleges deal with on a far too regular basis. Not only in relationships but things such as Operation Encompass updates, too. Investment in 16-18 education is currently 10% less in real terms vs 2010.

Note to everyone re education policy. Please stop banging on about Finland (unless your sentence is "what can Finland learn from England about great education?")

More proof that our children are doing better at Maths than pretty much ever before. Stop trying to find bad news everywhere - this is PROPER GOOD NEWS!!

Just finished on Today programme. I was on as YEF’s massive survey of teenagers has found 1 in 2 teenage children in relationships face violence or controlling behaviour. How we start to fix this 🧵(1/6)

Good to see old friends at Department for Education’s Christmas gathering. And nice to hear Secretary of State talking passionately about her priorities.

Really looking forward to speaking at this brilliant conference on how schools build community. Also an honour to be on the same bill as Darren.

Latest Fractured Thoughts now out. Three thoughts in three minutes. This week: “Rationality, Bans and Christmas.” Link in reply 👇

Think you're having a bad week at work? Could be worse 👇

Great news - bravo Australia (1/2)

Latest 'Fractured Thoughts' is out. 3 thoughts in 3 minutes. This week: Demons, Jobs and Equality (plus Olivia Colman - what's not to like). [Link in reply cos algorithm]

“Hundreds of thousands of teenagers are afraid to go out because of the violence they see on their social media feeds, a major study of children in England and Wales has found.” New report from YEF👇 Read and be angry for our teenagers. amp.theguardian.com/media/2024/n...