PCC announces Suffolk’s share of Home Office Early Intervention Youth Fund

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore has announced today (November 12) that Suffolk has successfully bid for a share of the Home Office’s £22m Early Intervention Youth Fund.

The fund was open to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales as lead bidders. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Suffolk worked with partners involved in tackling Urban Gangs and County Lines in Suffolk to apply for £56,997 to fund the Thinking Skills Programme. The programme will deliver intensive small group and individual work with young people aged 10-18 involved in offending through violence or gangs, and known to Suffolk Youth Justice Service.

Suffolk PCC’s Tim Passmore said, “I am absolutely delighted to secure this funding and would like to thank my officers and officers from the county council for their support with this bid.

“Suffolk is a relatively small force so I am particularly pleased to see we are one of only 19 force areas to secure a share of this Early Intervention Youth Fund. The Home Office received over a hundred bids so it’s excellent news that they were impressed by the multi-agency work being carried out here in the county to support our young people.”

Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

“This is very encouraging news. This additional funding will be used specifically to support some of our vulnerable young people who are at risk of offending or becoming involved in criminal activities.

“By supporting our young people to make better choices we can help them to secure their own positive futures.”

The Thinking Skills Programme will be developed locally and support up to eight high risk young people in Suffolk. In order to support longer term change there will also be engagement with parents. Increasing key skills will challenge offending behaviour, reduce re-offending and improve education and employment opportunities.  One of the additional benefits is that these programmes could then be used in local Youth Justice Teams, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) and other suitable settings. It will make a critical difference to young people involved in violence and gang activity.