Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe presenting a cheque to youth workers at the CHESS Centre.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe has visited a youth centre in Nuneaton to present funding to enable an expanded programme of activities across the summer.
Mr Seccombe presented the Targeted Youth Support team with £8,000 from his annual grants scheme during his visit this week to the CHESS Centre in Camp Hill. The funding will enable additional youth group sessions to be run over the summer holidays and beyond, including an innovative scheme designed to deter anti-social riding of mopeds.
Across a two-week period at the end of July and in early August, groups of young people from Camp Hill and also from Bedworth will be given classroom sessions designed to improve understanding and expand knowledge regarding the impact of their behaviour on the community and the potential consequences for the young person.
They will then take part in practical moped riding activities to help to develop skills that will minimise the risk of collision. The instructors do this while emphasising that these skills should only be put into practice when riding is safe, legal and appropriate.
The funding will also be used to deliver after-school sessions for Year 7 children across the year, helping to develop early connections between local children and the youth workers.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “I’m delighted to be able to fund the youth groups at the CHESS Centre for a second year running. The moped sessions proved very popular last year and are a good way to educate young people about the impact of anti-social riding, as well as equipping them with the skills they need to be safe and responsible riders in the future.
“Young people often tell me that there is too little for them to do during the summer holidays in particular, so this funding will also allow an expanded programme of activities to take place at the CHESS Centre and across the wider community. They can enjoy regular interaction with their friends in a more constructive and safe way, while benefiting from the guidance and the positive role models that the Targeted Youth Support workers are able to give.”
The Commissioner’s visit to the CHESS Centre comes as part of ASB Awareness Week 2023, a national initiative running from June 3-9 which aims to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.
Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, the week features a series of events all across the UK involving Councils, Police Forces, Housing Associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.
Recent YouGov research commissioned by Resolve found that almost 1 in 5 people have had to consider moving home because of the impact ASB was having on them; 1 in 10 have actually moved. Despite this, over half of those surveyed who were either a victim or witness of ASB did not report the ASB.
Mr Seccombe is urging members of the public not to suffer in silence if they experience ASB. Incidents can be reported to the anti-social behaviour team at the local council, or to the police if people feel that they are at immediate risk or in danger.
Rebecca Bryant OBE, Chief Executive of Resolve said: “ASB is not low-level. It can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the lives of victims and communities and can be a precursor to more serious crime.
“It is important that the challenge of ASB continues to be given the priority it needs so that people everywhere feel safe in their homes and communities.
“We are delighted that the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner is supporting this hugely important campaign. It is vital to develop partnership approaches across communities to deal with the growing challenges around ASB.”
You can find out more about how to report anti-social behaviour and where to get support via the Warwickshire Police website at: www.warwickshire.police.uk/asb.
