The Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire has met with young people who have benefitted from life-changing work he has funded.
Matthew Ellis recently visited The Prince’s Trust Centre in Stoke-on-Trent to meet a group of young people who are being helped by programmes set up by the Prince’s Trust.
The funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner has included extensive support work with more than 120 vulnerable young people from across the County to help them improve skills to find work and enter training or employment.
The Prince’s Trust offers support for young people via two core programmes, Fairbridge and Get Started. The Fairbridge programme provides group activities and opportunities to get one-to-one support to help young people build confidence and develop key skills. A residential trip takes place at the beginning of each course before individuals sign up to workshops in areas such as photography, finance, technology and cooking.
Get Started courses are designed to inspire young people and encourage them to move forward in their lives. Each individual is given additional support once the programme finishes to help them move into long-term employment. Courses include Get Started with Football, ran in partnership with Stoke City FC.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, Matthew Ellis said, “As well as helping some of our most vulnerable young people, our partnership with The Prince’s Trust has a positive effect on the wider society. Investing in young people and giving them the skills they need to find work helps to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour and strengthens community links, including breaking down barriers between disadvantaged young people and the police.
“Early intervention is one of my key priorities as evidence shows that the best way of preventing crime and having a positive impact on community wellbeing, quality of life and safety is to stop problems from arising in the first place.”
Paul Beesley, Deputy Director for The Prince’s Trust in Central England, said: “Our partnership with Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner will enable us to provide even more local, unemployed young people with the skills, confidence and motivation they need to secure work. We are grateful for their support.”
To read more about the Police and Crime Commissioner’s key priorities in his Safer, Fairer, United Communities strategy go to: www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/saferfairerunited/
