Peterborough projects benefit as crime chief announces £12,500 of new funding

The fund aims to engage young people in positive activities in their community in line with the commissioner’s pledge to “support work with young people to divert them away from a life of crime”.

The projects must aim to build relationships and improve engagement between young people and their communities. Charities and community groups were invited to bid for grants of up to £3,000.

The fund distributes money from the Police Property Act Fund. This is not from the police main budget but was created from the sale of recovered stolen items where the owners are not known and cannot be traced.

The projects awarded were:

. The Muslim Council of Peterborough for a project providing safeguarding training to raise awareness of signs of abuse and ill-treatment of children and young people in isolated and vulnerable communities

. Stretham Youth Centre for targeted work directing young people away from engaging in anti-social behaviour and low level criminality

. Thrive Youth Work, a Christian project based in Huntingdon for its ‘Gauntlet Auto Project’, set up for students to build positive relationships and develop practical skills in motorcycle riding and mechanics.

. Ormiston Families for its ‘Breaking Barriers’ project across Cambridgeshire, as well as Bedfordshire and Essex, to support young people who have a parent in prison

. The Prince’s Trust for its community project to produce and deliver a video to raise awareness of knife crime and to deliver it to a local school in Peterborough

Mr Ablewhite said: “My Youth and Community Fund has enabled grassroots diversionary projects to get off the ground. From boxing clubs to projects helping care leavers move into training, a host of projects has already benefitted from the funding.

“I am delighted to award these funds to support young people to participate in their local community. These projects encourage young people to engage more with their communities and learn new skills along the way.

“It is heart-warming to see how a small amount of money can make such a significant difference and lead to long term benefits for young people and the communities they are part of.”

More information about the funding can be found on the crime commissioner’s website at: https://www.cambridgeshire-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/funding/.