A youth club in Biddulph has expanded the activities they are able to provide for 14 – 19 year-olds thanks to a grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s People Power Fund.
Biddulph Youth and Community Zone, 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.
The youth club is encouraging children and young people from the local areas to attend, giving them a safe environment to be able to meet their friends, keep active and enjoy themselves.
Young people attending the club have the opportunity to take part in activities including badminton, basketball, table tennis, art workshops, dance and lots more.
Biddulph Youth and Community Zone, who currently have nearly 100 youngsters attending, were awarded £2,860 to expand the activities they are able to provide and extend their facilities to an older age range up to 19 years.
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.
‘I wasn’t expecting to turn up to Biddulph Youth and Community Zone on a Friday night to see so many people of all ages taking part in a range of activities from Pool and badminton, to bike restoration workshops. Antony and his team are doing superb work which is having a positive impact in the area.’
Antony Capostagno, Centre Manager, said: ‘I have been amazed by the initial turnout of teenagers to the youth and community zone, especially older teenagers. There is often the perception that when they are gathered together somewhere in a group, they are up to no good, when usually they are doing no harm.
‘But this extra funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner has enabled us to open later and offer the centre to an older age group and the number of youngsters attending is growing week on week.’
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.
