More than £64,000-worth of funding has been given to community groups for projects aimed at tackling serious and violent crime.
A total of £64,091.67 has been given to seven organisations active in target areas within Stockton and Hartlepool.
Projects given grants by Cleveland’s serious violence reduction unit CURV range from a project aimed at protecting street sex workers to sessions raising awareness among young people of the dangers of knife crime.
All projects aim to reduce violent crime in Ropner Ward, Stockton (formerly Oxbridge and Parkfield ward,) and the Burn Valley and Manor House wards, of Hartlepool.
Big League
One of the projects to receive funding from CURV is the Big League CIC. It’s based at the Burbank Community Centre in the heart of Hartlepool’s Burn Valley. It was given a £9,000 grant.
Staff hope to build trust between the community and the agencies, who are there to help them.
The Community Report and Support Centre, which is being set up over the next few weeks, will feature daily drop-ins as well as regular, informal meetings. There will also be updates on social media and a newsletter.
The centre aims to encourage the community to speak up, be heard and feel confident about reporting concerns and incidents. It’s also an opportunity for residents to get support if they are affected by serious crime.
The Big League aims to work with the community so they can share knowledge to understand the patterns behind violent crime and work effectively to anticipate and prevent it.
Bringing their own solutions
Sam Williamson, Big League’s Operations Manager, said: “People in this area just don’t trust public services. They are less likely to engage with police – even though there are high levels of crime.
“They are disenfranchised. Members of the community have an antipathy towards local services. They feel they haven’t been helped and have nowhere to go.
“However, our community interest company has been based here for years. People come to us. We encourage residents to bring their own solutions and create community cohesion.
“We’re hoping we can help to repair relationships and build bridges so the community – and public services – can share information.”
Cleveland PCC Steve Turner said: “This investment enhances the financial support already provided to initiatives in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland areas.
“This is part of a Cleveland-wide approach to reduce violent and serious crime.
“Since CURV was set up two years ago, its projects have reached more than 25,000 young people.
“I believe this has helped with recent recorded reductions in knife crime across Cleveland.
“Latest police figures for December 2023 show 44 knife offences were recorded – the lowest figure since March 2021 – and a 50% reduction on peak figures.”
Areas targeted by the latest round of CURV funding include Stockton’s Ropner Ward (formerly Oxbridge and Parkfield) and Burn Valley and Manor House, in Hartlepool. Projects will run until the end of March.
Full list of grants
In addition to the £9,000 given to the Big League CIC, the following projects were successful in securing CURV grants:
The Liberty Programme. A Way Out, Stockton (£10,000)
The programme engages with women involved in street sex work in the Ropner ward. It aims to address some of the women’s concerns including serious violence. The programme will also try to reduce tensions between sex workers and the local community.
Gamechanger. Challenge Academy CIC, Stockton (£10,000)
The project is running awareness raising sessions for parents, guardians and people working in the education and youth services on Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), organised gang crime and county lines.
Corner House Youth Project (CHYP), Stockton (£9,897.50)
Funding will go towards a series of music workshops for children, who have been exposed to – or involved in – serious violence. there will also be sessions for young people with experience of child criminal and sexual exploitation as well as two open access events. The project, centred on the Ropner ward, will end with a celebration event at Stockton Arc.
Belle Vue Community Sports Centre & Youth Centre, Hartlepool (£8,330)
Street-based youth workers will encourage young people to take part in sessions aimed at showing the causes and effects of violence. The project ends with a two-night residential.
The Wharton Trust, Hartlepool (£8,450)
A staff member with first-hand experience of the criminal justice system and violent crime will work with young people, whose behaviour is causing concern. Young people will hear real life experiences of violent crime and the kind of lifestyles, which can lead to it. At the same time, the staff member will offer hairdressing, giving him a chance to have one-to-one chats with individual young people. Youth workers will do follow-up work to signpost young people to appropriate help and advice. The project builds on existing relationships with parents, young people and the community in Burn Valley, Hartlepool.
No More Knives campaign, ORB Community Hub, Hartlepool (£8,500)
The hub serves the Oxford Road, Burn Valley, and Rift House areas of Hartlepool. It is working in partnership with the the Message Trust to deliver a knife awareness campaign targeted at secondary schools. No More Knives will be delivered in three secondary schools: Manor, High Tunstall and English Martyrs. The campaign is based on the aim that early intervention and education will lead to a reduction in violent crime.