Who We Are

About Violence Prevention SCIO

A Scottish charity dedicated to health and education through proactive violence prevention. We believe real prevention means building a culture of respect, developing psychological resilience, and giving people practical skills to handle conflict.

We are a collaborative organisation. We work through:

Networking — connecting organisations, community groups, and public institutions around violence prevention.
Advocacy — engaging policymakers at all levels to promote proactive prevention.
Evidence-Based Programmes — supporting and promoting high-quality, effective violence prevention initiatives.
Partnership — working with organisations experienced in mental health, resilience, trauma-informed education, and physical training such as martial arts.

Our Aims

Build a strong violence prevention network across Scotland.
Advocate for policy that prioritises empowerment-based prevention.
Shift the public narrative from fear and reaction to confidence and prevention.
Widen access to quality violence prevention training in schools, workplaces, and communities.

Download our detailed flyer here

Founded in 2026 to create intelligent and practical concepts to tackle violence and conflict in an ever-changing world. As a first step, we bring a German system of self-defence for women and girls to Scotland, focusing on psychological preparedness and de-escalation rather than purely physical combat techniques.

Violence and conflict are deeper issues. The most important step is to focus on the individual — to feel safe, respected, and empowered.

Our Approach

A Paradigm Shift in Prevention

At the heart of our work is a fundamental shift away from traditional, reactive self-defence — towards empowerment, awareness, and community-wide culture change.

🎯

A Victim-Centred Definition of Violence

Emotional scars often last longer than physical injuries. True prevention must address more than just physical conflict — including bullying, domestic abuse, and psychological harm.

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Respect as the Foundation

Respect is the most critical component of violence prevention. Our philosophy is built on understanding and defending both physical and emotional boundaries at every level of community life.

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Empowerment Over Fear

We reject fear-based narratives. Our approach focuses on building confidence, assertiveness, and self-worth — qualities that make individuals less likely to be seen as targets and better equipped to de-escalate conflicts.

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Addressing Modern Challenges

Screen-based lifestyles lead to a disconnect between mind and body — "de-bodification". We champion practices that reconnect individuals with their physical and emotional cues, fostering self-awareness for conflict management.

The Context

Scotland's Crime Landscape: A Call for Action

Police recorded crime in Scotland is currently at one of its lowest levels since 1974. That might sound good — yet some of the most dangerous threats have seen concerning increases.

11,323

Non-sexual crimes of violence recorded in 2023/24

+9.7%

Higher than the previous year

+21.3%

Higher than the five-year average

Overall violent crime recorded during 2023/24 was higher than in recent years, primarily due to elevated levels of common assault, which accounted for 91.6% of all violent crime that year.

What is even more concerning is the rise of sexual offences. Reports from Rape Crisis Scotland and the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) show alarming trends. Sexual crimes have increased by 18% over the five-year average.

⚠️ Young Offenders: Young people are disproportionately represented in crime statistics. Data shows a concerning spike in offending behaviour immediately after children transition from primary to secondary education.

A growing number of students and parents in schools ask for self-defence and assertiveness training for girls — an approach now also supported by the First Minister.