A total of 21 community organisations will receive a share of £38,000 to host positive activities for young people this autumn – a time of year often associated with antisocial behaviour.
Grass-roots projects have been awarded £38,020.72 from Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Steve Turner’s Autumn Activity Fund to run youth projects around Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Projects will run until Sunday 5 November. They range from a boxing tournament, to tabletop sessions for lovers of the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons.
People’s Meeples in Hartlepool will give up to 100 young people the opportunity to learn how to paint gaming miniatures – and then put them to action in a game of Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons.
Also benefiting from the funding, Billingham Boxing Academy will run a free, amateur boxing event on 5 November for young people, aged 11 to 25.
All activities aim to give young people a positive focus during October half-term, as well as help tackle antisocial behaviour in communities throughout Cleveland.
Since the beginning of April, the PCC has invested more than £55,000 in local community groups.
Keen to engage young people
Steve said: “It was great to read through so many brilliant applications from community groups keen to engage young people in positive and meaningful activity.
“Unfortunately at this time of year, there are a small number of people who seek to cause trouble and make life miserable for others.
“With everything from sport, art, cookery and gaming featuring in these projects, I’m delighted I’ve been able to fund so many extra activities this October half-term to keep young people off the streets.”
Charities and voluntary community sector organisations could apply for one-off grants of up to £2,500 as part of the Autumn Activity Fund.
Successful activities had to either reduce ASB or divert young people from becoming involved in ASB. They will also help to build resilience in communities.
Tackling ASB is a key priority in the PCC’s 2021-24 Police and Crime Plan.
Cash to support all of the autumn activities came from the Police Property Act Fund and the Community Safety Fund.
Full list of successful projects
The full list of successful projects is as follows:
- Iron Guidance (Thornaby): £2,500 for the Respect Effect Project
- Youth Focus North East (Pallister Park, Park End, Thorntree and North Ormesby, Middlesbrough): £2,131.68 for pop-up youth sessions
- Liverton Mines: £770 for youth autumn fun
- PFC/Hartlepool Sport (Headland, Hartlepool): £2,021.96 for Pumpkins in the Park
- Billingham Boxing Academy: £2,350 for a boxing event on 5 November
- Kids’ Kabin (Grove Hill, Easterside, Saltersgill, Pallister Park and Thorntree): £1,900 for youth sessions, starting week commencing 23 October
- People’s Meeples (Hartlepool): £1,520 for HallowTeen Paint and Play workshop for young table top gamers
- Belle Vue Sport and Youth Centre (Foggy Furze and Belle Vue, Hartlepool): £2,360 for additional youth club sessions
- Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation (Park End, Hemlington and Ayresome): £1,145 for Premier League Kicks sessions
- Corner House Youth Project (Ropner, Stockton town centre, Mandale and Victoria, Ingleby Barwick, Yarm and Newtown): £2,500 for targeted youth engagement
- St Ann’s Partnership (Portrack and Tilery): £1,000.08 for a free Halloween party
- Teesside Vineyard Church (Thornaby): £1,000 for a free light party on Sunday 29 October
- Wharton Trust (Dyke House): £2,500 for sports and outdoor activities
- Hartlepool St Francis Football Club (Rossmere/Fens and Manor): £2,230 for education and football sessions
- Pallister Park Pride in Place: £1,621 for community Halloween event
- Tees Valley Together/Hemlington Linx (Hemlington): £3,550.25 for a range of activities
- Sensory Spot CIC (Victoria): £1,965 for film fun nights, wellbeing and craft activities
- The Shack (Ragworth and Primrose Hill): £2,500 for an afternoon of activities on its allotment
- Aeronauts Trampoline Club CIC (Hartlepool): £2,471 for free trampolining sessions during half term
- Hazel Rockingham NLP (Roseberry): £1,000 for coaching to help participants gain greater self awareness and a positive mindset
- Jack of Hearts CIC (Headland): – £2,070 for a spooky seaside fun day in the Headland, Hartlepool, linked to the existing Wintertide Festival