Our operating model and governance

In 2021, we launched a new operating model, putting in place a more robust governance structure while also strengthening the way that we work with our partners, with local communities and those we serve.

Our operating model is a tiered structure, providing scrutiny and oversight, strategic leadership, coordination and empowers local delivery and community involvement.

• Executive Board – chaired by Matthew Barber, the Police & Crime Commissioner who is the Senior Responsible Officer for the VRU programme, with direct oversight of the VRU’s work, reporting to the Home Office
• Strategy Board – meeting quarterly, a partnership board with senior level representatives from the nine place-based partnerships plus key regional partners/agencies. A forum for strategic oversight of the programme and of local delivery
• Operational Board – meeting monthly, a partnership board with more working-level representatives from the nine-place based partnerships and the VRU core programme workstreams. Focused on the delivery at place of the violence reduction agenda. Reports to Strategy Board.
• Community & Voluntary Sector Board – a forum to focus on increasing capacity and activity across community, faith and voluntary sector organisations, providing a route to gather community/youth “voice” to influence our work.
• Community & Voluntary Sector Network – a virtual network of the broadest range of community, faith, voluntary sector organisations and representatives. Providing a route to gather local insight, to support problem-solving activity, to share good practice.
• Thames Valley Together Programme Board – focused on the development and roll-out of the Thames Valley Together data project.
• The Data Ethics Committee ensures new use-cases of data are scrutinised, making recommendations to the Strategy Board before adoption.
• Business & Social Impact Working Group – bringing together key partners with a focus on developing a sustainable future model for the VRU and its work, also developing approaches to working with business, to developing funding opportunities and supporting career capital initiatives for young people.
• Nine place-based partnerships: There are nine place-based partnerships in the Thames Valley. They are led by the local authority in line with their community safety responsibilities, brining together a range of partners.

If you are interested in our work or would like to be involved in these forum, please contact us.