From high-energy boxing sessions to learning crucial life lessons from offenders serving time in prison – thousands of young people continue to benefit from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s My Community Fund.
During the latest round of funding, a total of £150,000 was allocated to more than 40 community groups and youth projects across the West Midlands to help prevent and reduce crime in their local communities.
The Commissioner’s My Community Fund is made up of proceeds of crime seized from criminal activity, with the PCC, Simon Foster, allocating up to £5,000 to organisations intent on making communities safer and improving the quality of people’s lives.
Behaviour mentor Malachi Nunes runs youth service provider Ambitious Lives in Sandwell and, thanks to the My Community Fund, he’s been able to deliver impactful workshops on anti-knife crime, bleed control kit training and gang awareness.
“These workshops, supported by the PCC, have imparted life-saving skills to youth by teaching them how to effectively control bleeding in the event of a stabbing or severe injury,” Malachi explained.
“We’ve provided advice and guidance, supporting young people in making positive life choices and avoiding the dangers of youth violence and crime.”
Another group to benefit from PCC funding is Sandwell Asian Development Association. The My Community Fund has enabled coach Imran Mohammed to put on a non-contact boxing programme for young people aged between 11 and 18, below.
Imran said: “Thanks to the PCC, we are now running two sessions a week for around 30 to 40 of our youngsters. We’ve also employed two part-time trainers as a result of the funding.
“I’ve got kids who have behavioural issues at school and at home, but boxing allows them to use their energy in a positive way.”
Nathan Shillingford, who helps to transform the lives of boys and young men thanks to his The Invested Man project, added: “Our aim is to disrupt that school-to-prison pipeline by providing immersive workshops to young males aged between 12 and 16 at risk of exclusion or already excluded from education.
“Thanks to the My Community Fund, our programme partnered with HMP&YOI Brinsford as participants experienced prison life first-hand to deter poor life choices.
“Seven schools and 64 students participated which involved young adults serving time at Brinsford, trained by The Invested Man, who shared personal stories of crime and rehabilitation.
“The PCC’s funding made sure our programme effectively reshaped mindsets, offering a transformative experience that shifts them away from negative influences and towards a more positive future.”
Other groups to benefit from the latest round of the PCC’s My Community Fund included Kids in Communication (KIC) Walsall, HOPE Coventry, Wolverhampton Youth Zone, The Black Country Wellbeing Centre and Serenity for Girls in Birmingham.
Commenting on the impact of the My Community Fund, PCC Simon Foster said: “Once again we’re seeing the crucial importance of the My Community Fund and the positive impact it’s having on young people in the West Midlands.
“The My Community Fund is an opportunity for me to invest proceeds of crime back into communities that have all too often had to bear the brunt of that criminal activity.
“From my perspective as Police and Crime Commissioner, it’s absolutely essential we believe in, engage with, listen to, work with and, importantly, invest in our young people.
“There is no better way of investing proceeds of crime than back into local communities, for the benefit of young people, to prevent and tackle crime. I’m currently preparing a new Police and Crime Plan for the West Midlands and that will be in place between 2025 and 2029.
“My pledge is that the best interests of young people will always be a top priority in all actions and decisions I take that affect young people in the West Midlands.”
My Community Fund applications are expected to re-open next year. For more details, visit the My Community Fund home page here.
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