If you mention the name Lloyd Fouracre in Taunton, most people will know exactly who you mean. Lloyd’s senseless murder in 2005 sent shockwaves through the local community, shockwaves still felt today. Stand Against Violence, the charity started as a result of his death, is now launching a new community project, encouraging volunteer campaigners to raise awareness of the impact violence has on individuals, families and their communities. 
Following Lloyd’s death his brother Adam along with friends and family, collected some 26,000 signatures in support of more resources to be dedicated to the prevention of violence. The petition was presented to 10 Downing Street and Adam met with the Home Office. He began to give talks about the impact of violence to highlight the immediate and long-term consequences. The campaign became Stand Against Violence, which has continued to grow. In 2019 they reached 50,000 young people though violence prevention workshops across the UK in schools, youth groups and even football academies.
What began as a small campaign in the county town of Somerset has developed over the last fifteen years into a charity with a national presence.
Now building on their proven experience of working directly with local communities to deliver impact and positive outcomes, Stand Against Violence is launching a new project; the Community Engagement Programme. This project aims to raise awareness, through Lloyd’s story, of how violence can destroy lives and impact communities. Volunteer campaigners will share Lloyd’s story in workplaces, clubs and local organisations to encourage communities to take actions to prevent violence, focusing on the power of small, achievable actions that make a difference.
Stand Against Violence’s preventative approach has won several awards, including The Queen’s Award in 2014. The charity has continued to innovate, creating new ways to share their message with a wider audience, more recently this has included business services. Stand Against Violence provides conflict resolution training, as well as workshops in preventing bullying and harassment in the workplace. The charity’s profit for a purpose approach ensures surplus from their business training programmes is reinvested back into charity activity, enabling more young people to benefit from violence prevention training.
SAV’s Training Lead, Hannah Palmer, said: “A SAV Campaigner highlights the impact of violence and the actions people can take to help reduce violence in their community, people are often surprised by the research and how small positive actions to improve their own and other peoples’ environment both physically and mentally make a difference. We are excited to be launching this project which promotes our aim of giving people a chance to live in a world without violence.”
The project is due to launch in April 2021. For more information on the project contact Dave Urwin, d.urwin@sav-ed.co.uk or visit the charities website www.standagainstviolence.co.uk . You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter, where they post regular updates.
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