Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has invested almost £100k in a raft of new community projects to tackle serious violence and make communities feel safer.
Seven projects across East and West Leicestershire successfully bid for funding in the third round of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC's Safety Fund - bringing the total allocated through the scheme to more than £390k in 2023/24.
This round was built around the theme ‘Keeping Your Communities Safe', with the Commissioner particularly keen to support projects promoting community cohesion and public confidence in response to public order violence among under 25s.
Recent research undertaken by the Violence Reduction Network (VRN) showed that East and West Leicestershire were amongst several areas with a high prevalence of public place serious violence involving under 25s.
Each bid was subject to a tough assessment process overseen by the PCC and a panel with successful applicants receiving grants of up to £20k to deliver projects over 12 months starting from 1st April 2024.
They include £19,959 for Highfields Community Association's Young Futures project targeting the areas of Spinney Hill, Wycliffe, North Evington and Stoneygate.
The project, set to be delivered to 12 to 14-year-olds through weekly sessions and one-to-one mentoring, aims to provide young people with strategies for coping with negative peer pressure and help them understand how to prevent violence, the harmful impact of violence and gang activity and the value of rules and responsibilities.
In another project, The Braunstone Foundation received £19,338 for its Youth Neighbourhood Action Plan to provide weekly sport and dance sessions to promote inclusion and diversion and address young people carrying knives.
The project aims to support the Neighbourhood Policing Team's efforts to build trust and confidence in the community and will provide opportunities for young people to acquire Community Sport Leader and Community Dance Leader qualifications.
Mr Matthews said: "We are fortunate to live in a safe county with reducing levels of serious violence thanks to the hard work of a whole host of partners including the Police and the Violence Reduction Network. This work, which has put us ahead of colleagues nationally, has received praise by the Home Office but it is vital we continue the momentum and sustain the good work already underway. Every death or serious injury on our streets is a preventable tragedy.
"I was impressed by the depth and quality of the projects applying for funding. They will complement the work already underway in the county to challenge violent culture and help young people recognise their strengths and talents, so they are not so easily lured by crime or violence. I look forward to reporting on their future success."
In East Leicestershire, Antoin Akpom Achievements (AAA) received a grant for £10k to deliver The Metamorphosis Project at the Sacred Heart Academy in Leicester.
The project is a preventative programme for Year 6 children at risk of entrapment into gangs and radicalisation, providing positive role models and social skills training as well as specialist support. The work will benefit up to 15 children aged 10 to 12 and their families/professionals over a 12-month period.
For the full list of funding recipients please follow this link: https://bit.ly/CSFRound3
