Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, is urging local businesses to support the recently re-launched Space programme which will provide fun things for young people to do during the school summer holiday.
Businesses who provide activities for young people aged between 11–17 will receive free publicity for their project and will be able to use the respected Space brand. Activities will be featured on the PCC’s website and promoted on social media.
Local people have fond memories of taking part in the original Space scheme, which was led by police in Staffordshire during the 80’s and 90’s.
The new version of Space, pulled together by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, has a similar objective to engage young people and keep them safe and occupied during the summer, but activities will be planned and delivered by a wider team of public and voluntary organisations, including the Police.
Mr Ellis has pledged up to £140,000 for the new Space with an aim of increasing skills, improving health and increasing general well-being. Activities will include sporting events, arts and crafts and music production.
Space will run between Monday 20 July and Friday 4 September and will cover areas across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: “I am bringing back a new version of Space to provide activities for youngsters during the school holidays. It will provide a positive experience for young people and an opportunity to engage with public and voluntary sector organisations.
“We would love to work with local businesses to promote their activities under the Space banner on our website. This will provide free publicity for businesses and make it easier for young people to see a full list of what is going on in their area.
“The Space scheme has come back to life thanks to the hard work of a small group of colleagues in my office and a real surge of practical support locally. This time around it will be different and will supplement existing activities being supported by local councils, but the principles of the old Space remain the same.
“My hope is that Space 2015 is just the start of a new life for this much-loved and highly successful scheme”.
More information, including a calendar of events will be available soon. Keep checking www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/space for updates.
