A club for young people in Burntwood and Lichfield has established a youth club for 12 – 16 year olds thanks to a grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s People Power Fund.
VIP Lounge youth club, run by Fun Club, aims to reduce anti-social behaviour in the surrounding areas by encouraging young people to attend and take part in a range of different activities.
Young people at the club have the opportunity to take part in activities including graffiti art workshops, sports activities and computer gaming sessions.
Fun Club, who also work with young people who are close to entering the criminal justice system, were awarded £3,000 to set up the VIP Lounge youth club.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, Matthew Ellis, said:
‘The best ideas to reduce crime, social harm and anti-social behaviour often come from communities affected by those issues. That’s why, since 2013 I’ve increased the funding provided for simple things that make local areas safer and better to live in.
‘At the heart of developing the Commissioner’s People Power Fund and Proceeds of Crime Fund was listening to those who are closest to the problem and supporting their ideas with funding to try and fix things. I’m continuing this because the principle has been so successful over the last few years.
‘Tackling the issues, building community spirit and often reducing repeat demand on policing means providing that financial help at the most local level is really cost effective.
‘Fun Club are doing a fantastic job of providing youngsters in Burntwood with a safe environment to keep them entertained and out of mischief.’
Fun Club co-Founder, Kelly McCabe-Crowley, said:
‘The Fun club VIP Lounge session couldn’t run without the support from the PCC we run a senior sessions where young people can be in a safe place with their friends learn new skills and mostly have fun thanks to the funding we are able to provide activities that they want including graffiti sessions.’
Great ideas for community safety solutions come from local people and the People Power Fund supports locally-driven community safety activities and empowers local people to find solutions.
The fund provides money to community groups and organisations to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and increase public confidence as well as improving community safety.
The People Power Fund, which made available £500,000 in the form of grants between £100 and £3,000, was part of £2.5 million total community funding from the PCC for 2016/17.
The Proceeds of Crime Fund is seeing 100 per cent of funding received by Staffordshire Police going back into local communities, through grants of between £3,000 and £15,000. It is made up of money seized from criminals.
