The Young Londoners Fund has been set up by City Hall in the wake of swingeing government cuts to youth services, to help children and young people to fulfil their potential- particularly those most at risk of getting caught up in crime.

The fund already supports numerous local community projects across the borough, providing spaces and activities for young Londoners. Through boosting the reach of early intervention initiatives, this is a crucial facet of the mayor's public health approach towards reducing violent crime in the long term.

I was delighted to recently speak at a Young Londoners Network event at the Youth Zone in Dagenham, run by Barking and Dagenham Council for Voluntary Services, to promote the fund to potential new applicants.

Last month I also attended the D-Day memorial parade organised by Barking and Dagenham Council, marking the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy during the Second World War. We owe an enormous amount of gratitude to the servicemen and servicewomen from the UK and all over the world who fought against the forces of fascism to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today.

At City Hall, my focus remains upon tackling the scourge of violent crime that continues to affect and be of significant concern to East Londoners. The strategy of implementing a holistic public health approach by bringing together the various agencies who can make an impact on the root causes of violent crime, has proven successful elsewhere, and we must remain resolute in working towards achieving this goal.