Executive Summary
The Community Guardians programme aims to identify and support community members who engage with children and young people to identify potential risks of exploitation and respond appropriately – they play a crucial role in preventing and responding to child exploitation.
The key objectives of the programme include:
- Consistent approach to programme delivery across the whole of the Cleveland area (Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees).
- Identifying a broad and diverse range of community members who can act as ‘Community Guardians’ to help identify children at risk and respond appropriately.
- Recognising and sharing risk factors within the HOTH (Harm Outside the Home) safeguarding process.
- Making community spaces safer for children and young people by fostering safe, supportive environments.
- Engaging a broad spectrum of the community to build resilience and strengthen community safety networks.
- Recruiting, training, and supporting a network of Community Guardians across four local authority areas.
The purpose of this report is to advise the Police and Crime Commissioner of the procurement process undertaken to award a contract for the Community Guardians Programme.
Details of the Procurement Process are included in the appended report.