Safe, engaging activities funded for 6,000 young people this Halloween and Bonfire Night
12.10.22 - Merseyside
More than 6,000 young people will be able to enjoy safe, engaging activities this Halloween and Bonfire Night, thanks to Merseyside’s Police Commissioner.
Emily Spurrell has invested more than £55,000 from her Youth Diversion Fund for projects aimed at preventing crime and engaging young people over the autumn half term.
It is the third round of grants released by the Commissioner from the Fund, which diverts money raised from the sale of unclaimed stolen goods or recovered property, which cannot be returned to its owners, to worthwhile causes.
The Commissioner launched the fund to help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour at times when it often spikes, while giving young people across the region better opportunities to get involved in safe, supervised, engaging activities.
To help ease the pressure on communities this autumn, the Commissioner has awarded funding to 27 grassroots initiatives which will use the money to divert more than 6,000 young people away from crime and ASB, while complementing Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service’s work.
This year saw an increase in the number of grassroots organisations bidding to keep young people fed during the school break. There was also an increase in community groups applying to heat centres during the extra opening hours as utility costs soar.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: "Halloween and Bonfire Night are a time of great fun and excitement for many people across Merseyside, but sometimes it can go too far and sadly we know some communities still see an increase in criminal and anti-social behaviour. This often makes it a particularly busy time for the police and the fire service.
“I’m hoping to help reduce the pressure on local people and our blue light services by awarding grants to 27 fantastic grassroots initiatives with the aim of preventing crime and providing engaging, safe and supervised activities for nearly 6,000 young people across Merseyside.
“While each of these individual grants are only relatively small, our fantastic voluntary and third sector really know how to make the most of such a cash boost to benefit their local communities. They have proposed a host of imaginative and creative projects which will support the excellent diversionary work carried out by the police and fire service and will make a huge difference in keeping young people safe.
“By using these grants to fund a wide range of well-organised community activities, my goal is to ensure young people can enjoy the autumn festivities in a safe and enjoyable way, without getting drawn into any activities which could become intimidating, anti-social or even dangerous to other members of the community.”
A total of 102 applications were received for the fund, with a combined value of more than £224,000. To avoid any duplication, bids were shared with partners before being reviewed by a panel from the Commissioner’s team and the Community Foundation for Merseyside, who manage the fund on the PCC’s behalf.
As a result, 11 organisations in Liverpool were awarded funding, with six projects running on the Wirral, two in Sefton, four in St Helens and four in Knowsley.
Among the successful recipient were Kids Activities and Bootcamps in Knowsley, who will provide outreach work in the Kirkby area for up to 300 young people and hold Halloween discos on key nights. On the Wirral, the Hive Youth Zone have been awarded £2,000 to run a Halloween-themed maze event on the 30th and 31st aimed at 350 young people aged 8-19. There are specific time slots designated for those with additional needs to ensure the entire community can participate.
In Liverpool, Dovecot and Princess Drive Community Association received nearly £3,000 to run a wide range of diversionary activities. This will include crafts, a community mural, movie nights and a Halloween disco. One-to-one support will be offered for those suffering because of recent tragic incidents in the area. The Woolton Centre received £2,000 for Halloween events for 40 young people to divert them away from ASB.
In Sefton, Rampworx Youth Village 2000 will get £3,000 to provide extended park opening times at key times when ASB has risen in the past, providing activities for up to 600 young people at risk in the South Sefton area.
St Helens Hamma Academy of Sports and Martial Arts will use their £2,000 to run a mixed martial arts course over the half term, with prizes on offer as a further incentive for 150 young people to attend. Other projects that have been funded across Merseyside include movie nights, fitness and boxing sessions and Zombie Walks.
The Youth Diversion Fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, (CFM) on behalf of the Commissioner. CFM holds funds from philanthropic individuals and organisations who wish to support deserving causes in Merseyside and Lancashire.
Rae Brooke, Chief Executive for the Community Foundation for Merseyside, said: “For many years our partnership with the Police & Crime Commissioner for Merseyside has enabled us to distribute funding to a broad range of local community projects making a positive difference to people’s lives.
“The Youth Diversion Fund provides a valuable opportunity for charitable groups in Merseyside focused upon steering young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour to apply for a share of the available funding.”
Find projects in your area
Please find below details of all the successful projects, broken down by Local Authority area:
Knowsley
- ForHousing - £2,065 for 90 young people, who will benefit from sports, arts, and drama activities. The project will run on key nights during the period of Halloween and Half Term. The centre is the heart of an area which has suffered from ASB.
- Huyton Initiative for youth activities - £2,500 for 180 young people to run a series of programmes across Halloween and Bonfire Nights including crafts, cooking, games, and movie nights with the aim to decrease ASB on these nights.
- Kids Activities and Bootcamps - £2,500 to provide outreach work in the Kirkby area for up to 300 young people. This will provide team building, problem solving, food and music. They will hold Halloween discos on key nights.
- Knowsley Youth Mutual - £2,000 to run a series of outdoor recreation activities for young people in Knowsley for 150 young people.
Knowsley total £9,065 for 720 beneficiaries from 4 projects
Liverpool
- Al Ghazali Multi-Cultural Centre - £2,000 to provide a range of activities for 60 young people. This will also provide food to disadvantaged young people in the Liverpool 8 area.
- Dovecot and Princess Drive Community Association - £2,985 to run a wide range of diversionary activities. This will include crafts, community mural, movie nights and a Halloween disco at the key times of high ASB. One-to-one support will be offered for those suffering because of recent tragic incidents in the area. 300 beneficiaries.
- Joseph Lappin Centre - £2,000 to provide activities with the aim of diverting 350 young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour via film clubs, cookery sessions and Halloween discos.
- Lister Residents Association - £1,740 to provide a multi-skills programme to 200 young people on key nights in the Kensington and Fairfield area.
- Nobody Left Behind - £2,000 to provide bonfire event with sports and fitness activities to 30 young people in the Toxteth area.
- Norris Green Youth Centre - £2,000 to provide youth diversion through arts, sports, cooking and bike maintenance. This will be for 40 beneficiaries.
- Shrewsbury House - £4,000 for activities for 200 young people around citizenship, personal safety and relationships during key times.
- The Florrie - £2,000 to provide workshops for 300 children and young people in preparation for The Grand Hall Halloween Party, these include, mask making, Halloween costume making, scary story telling on their radio show and preparing animation shows for their annual scary windows display.
- Opening Doors Project - £2,000 for Halloween activities including a Zombie walk through the Warbreck area with a Halloween Party at the end for an estimated 900 young people.
- Unity Community Association - £1,000 towards their annual roller disco in the L8 area on Halloween and Bonfire Night for 150 young people.
- Woolton Centre - £2,000 for Halloween events, cooking, disco, movies nights and craft workshops for 40 young people
Liverpool total £23,725 for 2570 beneficiaries from 11 projects
Sefton
- Gillies FC - £2,900 to deliver extra Halloween-themed activities for 300 young people in Netherton and Orrell, areas which have been a high level of ASB. The club has a proven track record of successful projects to engage young people and will work alongside MFRS.
- Rampworx Youth Village 2000 - £3,000 to provide extended park opening times to include key times of high ASB. The extended hours will provide food for up to 600 young people at risk in the South Sefton area.
Sefton total £5,900 for 900 beneficiaries from 2 projects
St Helens
- Business for Youth in Newton-le-Willows - £750 to host a Halloween event in the evening for 150 young people in the area with free entry, food, drinks, and themed decorations.
- Hamma Academy of Sports and Martial Arts - £2,000 to run a mixed martial arts course, with prizes on offer as further incentives for 150 people to attend in an attempt to discourage anti-social behaviour in the local town centre area
- Park Farm ACYP £2,000 for 150 young people to host events during the October half term and Halloween period for deprived communities including outdoor activities, arts and crafts, a disco, and costume party.
- Portico Vine Amateur Rugby League Club £2,000 for 240 young people to host Halloween events on the weekend leading up. A family Halloween party for local children, a "Spookfest" for older children and adults, and Halloween training for any age group. They will provide entertainment, decorations, food, and drink.
St Helens £6,750 for 690 beneficiaries over 4 projects
Wirral
- Byrne Avenue Trust - £961 to provide football sessions for 120 young people, split into age groups. Food and refreshments will be provided. On Halloween, a drop in event will be hosted to allow children to participate in games and activities.
- Creating Community - £1,800 to provide diversionary activities for 120 children and young people over the Halloween half term in the Birkenhead area.
- Gautby Rd Play and Community Centre - £1750 to be used to provide art, cooking, alternative sports, and a Halloween Fest for 500 children and young people.
- Leasowe Play and Youth Association - £1,680 to provide activities for 40 young people to divert them from anti-social behaviour during key times.
- The Heart of Egremont - £2,000 to provide a Halloween disco, movie nights and also a circus for 60 young people in the Liscard area.
- Wirral Youth Zone - £2,000 to run a Halloween-themed maze event on the 30th and 31st aimed at 350 young people aged 8-19. There are specific time slots designated for those with additional needs to ensure the entire community can participate.
Wirral total £10,191 for 1,190 beneficiaries from 6 projects
Merseyside total = £55,631 for 6,070 beneficiaries from 27 projects