Stafford Borough Council is backing the re-launch of the popular Space scheme by Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis to provide fun activities for young people during the school summer holiday.
Space was originally an activities scheme led by police in Staffordshire during the 80’s and 90’s aimed at engaging with young people. The new version of Space, coordinated by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, has similar objectives and is aimed at 11 and 17 year-olds. The activities have been planned and delivered by a wider collaboration of public and voluntary organisations, including the Police.
Mr Ellis has pledged up to £140,000 to fund activities with an aim to increase skills, improve health and general wellbeing by creating opportunities to engage with young people positively. Activities will include sporting events, arts and crafts and music production.
The Space scheme will run between Monday 20 July and Friday 4 September and will cover areas across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Mr Ellis said: “I am bringing back a new version of Space to provide activities for youngsters during the school holidays. It aims to provide a positive experience for young people and opportunity to engage with public and voluntary sector organisations.
“The Space scheme has come back to life thanks to the hard work of a small group of colleagues in my office. This time around it will be different and will supplement existing activities being supported by local authorities but the principles remain the same.
“The Chief Constable has agreed that neighbourhood policing teams will be at the heart of Space and is enthusiastically behind it.
“My hope is that Space 2015 is just the start as I envisage the scheme expanding over coming years.”
Stafford Borough Council has worked closely with the PCC’s office to organise and plan local Space activities.
Councillor Patrick Farrington, Stafford Borough Council Leader, said: “I have already heard parents talking about how they are delighted to see the Space scheme return as many can remember having a great time taking part in it themselves, many years ago, and are now looking forward to their children enjoying the same experiences.
“A safer borough is one of our council’s top priorities and this project is designed to provide children with some fun activities over the summer holidays in a safe environment.
“We have already run a variety of sporting, cultural and leisure activities throughout the school holidays and I am sure the new Space scheme will complement what is already on offer.”
More information, including a calendar of events, is available at www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/space
