Cheshire East youth engagement activities set to launch

Seven new youth engagement projects will soon launch in Crewe and Holmes Chapel thanks to funding from David Keane, the county’s police and crime commissioner.

Young people from across the area will soon have the opportunity to attend a number of different activity sessions funded by the police and crime commissioner in a bid to give them something positive to do, as lockdown restrictions ease.

Following successful bids to the Commissioner’s Community Policing fund, football, rugby, boxing and multi-sports sessions will be delivered by community groups alongside their local policing teams.

Holmes Chapel Boxing Club will provide training sessions for young people who are disengaged at school and at risk of offending or causing anti-social behavior. Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School will work with the policing team and boxing club to identify and refer young people to the scheme.

Two new football sessions will start in partnership with Crewe Alexander Football club targeting young people from the Crewe South and Shavington and Rope policing areas. Sessions will be delivered by qualified coaches and will look to engage with teenagers, providing a fun and engaging sessions to deter them from engaging in anti-social behavior.

The recreation facilities on McLaren Street in the Crewe North area, will play host to a brand new street sports session. Sessions will be delivered in partnership with Sale Sharks Community Trust and offer young people the chance to take part in a fun rugby sessions.

Over in Haslington, a new youth project will be established to give young people the chance to develop skills and promote healthy lifestyles.  Sessions are free of charge and enable young people to try sports, arts and develop life skills.

Bunbury Youth club will make their club more welcoming with a full makeover and a new lunch-time sports club will start in Wistaston and Willaston.

These projects have been made possible through the commissioner’s Community Police Fund which is a new fund provided to all 122 policing communities in Cheshire. Community police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have been working with local residents to develop bids of up-to £1,000 to fund projects which address local issues.

The fund has been developed using money seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA) 2002. It also links directly to the recently launched initiative to increase police visibility in every community by providing a dedicated Police Constable and PCSO for all 122 areas.

Funding will enable all the groups to purchase equipment, provide qualified coaches and activity providers and offer a safe place for young people to engage in positive activities.  PCSOs and PCs from Shavington and Rope, Wistaston and Willaston, Haslington, Bunbury and Wrenbury, Dane Valley (Holmes Chapel), Crewe North and Crewe South community policing areas will support the delivery and engage with young people.

PCC David Keane said: “Young people are often tempted to commit anti-social behaviour because they have nothing else to do which is partly a reflection of the underfunding for youth services and diversionary activities.

“I’ve made it my priority to make communities safer and I want to give young people the chance to access the opportunities they deserve.  These projects will do just that.

“Enabling groups to work alongside the policing teams to build stronger relationships with young people, will in turn create safer and more resilient communities.

“Activities will start when restrictions allow and I hope they will provide young people with something positive to look forward to.”