Children as young as 11 are to be supported by a new A&E hospital programme in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe after they’ve been injured or traumatised by violence.

“Navigators” will reach out to young people attending Hull Royal Infirmary, Scunthorpe General Hospital and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby for injuries caused by or linked to violence, including knife crime.

Specially trained navigators will aim to build relationships with young people, directing them to community services and supporting them once they leave hospital, helping them to make positive changes to their lifestyles.

Vicky Thersby, Group Head of Safeguarding at NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “We aim to support young people who come to our hospitals with violence-related injuries, providing them with support at critical time, following a violent incident.

“This is a confidential service providing care, guidance, practical advice and support to help young people tackle problems that might be preventing them from living safe and positive lives.

“Our Navigators are not there to ask about the incident which has brought a young person to hospital. Instead, our aim is to help the young person take the next steps to create a brighter future for themselves.”

Hospital admissions for assault with a sharp object, including knives, have risen by nine per cent since 2021 across the Humber region. Between a quarter and a third of those admitted to hospital are under 24.

NHS Humber Health Partnership, the group representing Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust and Hull University Teaching Hospitals, has been commissioned by Humber Violence Prevention Partnership, a Home Office-funded Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) set up in 2022 to prevent and reduce serious violence, and will work with Tigers Trust and The Blue Door to deliver the Navigators programme.

Launched at the start of this month, anyone aged 11 to 35 who turns up at A&E departments following a violent incident or who is admitted to hospital wards for treatment can be approached directly by the navigators. They can also be referred to the service by hospital staff or they can request support themselves once they arrive at hospital.

Navigators will first assess the young person’s needs to protect them from immediate harm while they recover from their injuries. They are then able to make swift referrals to charities and support services in the community promoting positive lifestyles, such as refuges, housing and drug and alcohol services.

Rather than simply referring the young person to other services, navigators will continue to offer support from informal mentoring to teaching young people life skills to reduce immediate risk of violence in the future for as long as the person wishes.

Jonathan Evison, Chair of the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership, said: “The Navigators programme is part of the wider work we are doing across the Humber, taking a public health approach preventing and reducing serious violence.”