THE POWER OF SPORT SHINES THROUGH AT THE FOUNDATION OF LIGHT AS NORTHUMBRIA PCC PRAISES ‘FANTASTIC’ INTERVENTION WORK IN SUNDERLAND

 Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness hails the intervention work being delivered in Sunderland to young people vulnerable to falling into crime.

The Foundation of Light, the registered charity of Sunderland AFC, is one of the 30 interventions across the region to benefit from funding through the Commissioners Violence Reduction Unit – a team formed in late 2019 to tackle serious violence with a public health approach.

Kicks, a football based session delivered Mondays and Fridays at the Beacon of Light, provides an opportunity for young people to play football and be educated around the impact a life of crime can have on the individuals and their families.

Kim McGuinness said: “The fantastic thing about Kicks is that it harnesses the power of football and the power of sport. It uses the Sunderland brand to bring young people in and give them something to do.”

The Commissioner heard about the workshops delivered by the foundation and the importance of educating the young people around the topics of; knife crime, mental health and exploitation.

After taking time to observe the session, the PCC spoke to several young people attending around the benefits of the session and what skills they have gained since taking part. Kim went on to praise the Foundation and thank them for their work to date and evolving partnership. She said: “A massive thank you to the Foundation of Light, this is exactly the sort of thing that gives young people positive mentors and keeps them away from crime, anti-social behaviour, and difficult behaviour.”

With over 120 referrals to the programme already, including 49 girls, Foundation of Light Kicks co-ordinator, Dave Jeffries highlighted the important work of an activity like this in the local area. He said: “A lot of the kids attending these sessions would otherwise be involved in other activities, not always positive ones. So giving that opportunity is a big thing for them, because otherwise anti-social behaviour, which we know a lot of the kids have been involved in the past, can occur.”

Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, along with the funded interventions and several partners including education and health are working together to improve the lives of young people and provide an accessible pathway to support for those in need.

This approach has been praised by the Foundation, recognising the opportunities young people are now being provided with. Dave explains: “Projects like this, and support from the Police and Crime Commission are vital, for the area. It gives the kids such a positive and safe environment to be in.”

For more information on the sessions delivered by the Foundation of Light, please visit https://www.foundationoflight.co.uk/.

KIM MCGUINNESS, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER, LAUNCHES VIOLENCE REDUCTION UNIT WITH £930,000 FUNDING TO TACKLE VIOLENT CRIME.

Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has revealed the life-changing organisations which will benefit from nearly £1m in Violence Reduction Unit funding.

The specialist Violence Reduction Unit was set up earlier this year by the police commissioner in a bid to ensure Northumbria remains a safe region, with a team dedicated to preventing violence among at risk teenagers and adults.

30 organisations across the Northumbria area have been awarded a share of £930,000 as part of joint efforts to reduce violent crime, ensuring much needed investment in vital youth and community services suffering after ten years of austerity.

The chosen projects will focus on ensuring that the violent crime seen in other cities does not become a reality in the North East. The Police Commissioner’s Violence Reduction Unit will at first focus on early intervention, youth diversion, mental health, and drugs, alcohol & homelessness.

Projects benefiting from the funding include:

• The Foundation of Light’s Kicks Town scheme, using sport to give young people worthwhile activities.
• Increasing the reach of the YOLO project across the Northumbria area. The scheme works with 8-14 year-olds who are at risk of slipping into a life of crime and prevents them from becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, knife crime and serious youth violence.
• Changing Lives’ street support officers, helping address the issued which lead people to begging and becoming at risk of being a victim or perpetrator of serious violence.
• A Newcastle United Foundation scheme dedicated to helping young people avoid violent behaviour

The Violence Reduction Unit will build on the techniques first seen on the streets of Glasgow, where police, councils, the NHS and charities worked with communities to treat violence as a public health emergency. This hugely successful approach saw at risk people targeted early in order to prevent crime, and is credited with a 50% reduction in some violent offending.

The 30 projects receiving funding will commit to this  public health approach to crime reduction, working  with Northumbria Police, six local authorities, health, education, and other service providers to better understand the root causes of violent crime.

Launching the VRU funding, Kim McGuinness said: “By establishing a Violence Reduction Unit we are saying loud and clear, we will not accept rising crime in our region. Northumbria is not a violent place, it’s safe and it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep it that way.

“I’m incredibly proud that so many local organisations, from charities to housing providers, have quickly come together with local councils and our NHS and committed to the goal of preventing crime before it happens. They are making the changes necessary in our region to give people opportunities, improve lives and divert people from crime.

“Violent crime is a symptom of inequality, and like a contagious disease it spreads if we don’t treat it. By taking urgent measures now we can prevent this. Ten years of austerity has shown that when you cut public services such as youth services, Sure Start and help for those with addiction or mental health needs, crime rises.

“The funding I have provided will help people in the short term, but this is something we need the government to commit to long term. We need a long term fix to solve deep-rooted issues.”

Funding for the Violence Reduction Unit was secured by the Police Commissioner from the Home Office. At present funding is only in place until March 2020, and the Commissioner has called on all political parties to commit to providing a dedicated interventions fund from next year onwards.

The Commissioner’s VRU has the long term vision of reducing violence by providing a clear support route for individuals and families. Its success will depend on organisations coming together to make tackling violence everyone’s problem. As part of that approach the Commissioner will work with a strategic board to ensure dedicated organisations from across the region can come together to share their expertise and resources.

KNIFE ANGEL DEPARTS FOLLOWING A MONTH OF AWARENESS RAISING AND INTERVENTION WORK

More than 1,000 students have been educated on the chilling impact of knife crime after a phenomenal artwork came to the region.

The Knife Angel departs the region tomorrow, following a month long stay in Gateshead that has seen impactful workshops delivered to nearly 40 schools, youth groups and colleges. Through the workshops, more than 1,000 students have heard Samantha’s story and listened to the lasting damage suffered by the Madgin family following the horrifying murder of 18-year-old Samantha in 2007.

Samantha’s Legacy, ran by Alison & Carly Madgin, the mother and sister of Samantha, have been present at the Angel every day since its arrival on 30^th January, delivering the workshops, engaging with visitors to the monument, and ensuring Samantha’s story is heard far and wide.

The month long stay, supported by Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police, Gateshead and Newcastle City Councils has seen high engagement and foot fall since its arrival.

Carly said: “This month has been overwhelming. The reaction and support we have received has been incredible. While there has been many tears throughout the month, I know Samantha will be looking down on us, smiling and proud of the work we are doing.

“Everyone we have engaged has been so respectful – the feedback following our sessions has been moving and emotional, but it’s important young people hear our story and learn from it.”

The workshops delivered by the family are hard-hitting, detailing the horrific events that led to the murder of Samantha Madgin, and the effects it had on the family and still has to the day.

Students attending the workshops are also informed on the wider legal ramifications of carrying a knife by Northumbria Police and the services available to young people who may need help and support in relation to this issue.

Alison, whose daughter had only given birth 68 days before being losing her life, spoke emotionally about the work the charity has delivered this month and the impact they hope to have had.

She said: “I am extremely passionate about supporting young people. When we campaigned for the Knife Angel to come to the North East, we wanted to use it to reach young people and help them understand the impact knife crime can have.

“Through our sessions, even if we have changed just one person’s thoughts on carrying a knife, then it has been a success. No family should have to suffer like we have.

“Seeing the region come together this month, supporting our message and sharing Samantha’s story has been amazing. The opening ceremony, where we had families who had lost someone to a knife share their heartbreak, should be enough to deter anyone from carrying.”

 The visit of the Knife Angel, a monument made of 100,000 knives, has been supported by a range of organisations, including the Police & Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness.

Kim said: “I am so proud of Alison and Carly, and the work they have put in this month. One victim of knife crime is one too many, and understanding what causes people to think they have to carry a knife is critical to tackling the issue. We want to get in there and prevent crime tacking place, giving everyone in the region the best chance in life.

“No family should have to suffer as the Madgins have, and through my Violence Reduction Unit, we are working hard to ensure that young people are given a chance to do something with their life. That means finding them alternatives to crime and targeted work on those who are already caught up in violence and gang culture. If we support young people we can reduce crime and save lives. “

The civic departure of the Knife Angel will take place at 5pm on Thursday 28^th February at its location on Performance Square outside Sage Gateshead. It will then depart the region the following day and bring to an end its stay in the North East.

 A Newcastle based junior football club has teamed up with a North East charity to provide food and welfare parcels across the city to those in need during lockdown.

Red House Farm FC, a leading local football club, has joined forces with Edge North East, a charity that works with Northumbria Police and Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner to provide training and mentoring around county lines, child exploitation and more.

The partnership has seen over 200 deliveries go out to vulnerable families and individuals struggling during lockdown – a combination of food packages, as well as hygiene and wellbeing packs.

Chris Mann, secretary at Red House Farm FC and mentor at Edge NE who started the initiative, said: “We knew that there were members of our own football club who would struggle to provide the additional meals during lockdown, never mind the other individuals and families who didn’t have someone to care for them. That is where is began, and then expanded into helping the local elderly residents who were shielding as well.”

Using their clubhouse on Kingston Park Road to pack and prepare the packages, the club have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of members, local charities and funders.

Chris said: “The response has been fantastic – I think it has opened a lot of people’s eyes to the situations that some are facing during lockdown and the inequalities people are suffering.”

“We wouldn’t have been able to support as many as we have without the generous financial support from Edge NE, the Red House Farm FC Trustees, The Ballinger Trust, Samantha’s Legacy & Fawdon Ward Councillors. Their funding has enabled us to purchase fresh food items along with the non-perishable supplies provided by FareShare.”

Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, has thanked Red House Farm FC & Edge NE for their collaboration which has supported many in need through these challenging times.

Kim said: “It has been so pleasing to see local organisations come together to support their communities during these difficult times. Parents will be feeling the extra burden of additional meals whilst schools are closed, so the work being done here to support that will be greatly appreciated across the city.”

“This has been a great example of the good that sport can do, and the role these organisations play within their community. Young people have faced a lot of adversity these last 3 months, and this support will have gone a long way to supporting them through the challenges of lockdown.”

As football training, albeit in a different format to usual returns to Red House Farm, the club have taken an extra step to support the return of their 450+ members.

Chris said: “We understand the impact this will have had on young people, so we have offered mental health training to all coaches to help them provide an extra element of support to their players. Our members see this as a safe place and we will be doing all we can do help them after what will have been a potentially damaging 13 weeks in lockdown.”

Collette Devlin-Smith, Managing Director of Edge NE, highlighted the importance of this project in supporting the vulnerable and reducing risk amongst vulnerable young people in the communities being supported.

“This work is not just about delivering food parcels – it’s about the support we can give to families on the doorstep when delivering them, being there to talk to and ensuring young people are following the guidelines.”

“Young people have had their safe spaces taken from them during this, and whilst some have been able to take part in online provisions, not all have that luxury. Being able to drop a food parcel off and have a conversation at the door has never been so important and valued.”

Red House Farm FC have committed to delivering food parcels for the foreseeable future and continuing to support the families and individuals they are currently engaging.

When asked about continuing during the summer holidays, Chris said: “I would love to continue – we’ve been able to provide some families with foods & treats they normally wouldn’t be able to purchase, so if the donations and support continue, then we look to maintain the service.”

PCC awards vital funding to help support children affected by domestic abuse

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, has awarded £120,000 to specialist organisations that work to support young people at risk of domestic abuse and children who are affected by it.

The emergency funding package, launched last month, was designed to help children and families throughout the whole force area, especially during a time of heightened exposure to abuse while isolating and not attending school.

By providing money to cover counselling services, education programmes, helplines and intervention services, the Commissioner wants to ensure young people do not become the forgotten victims of domestic abuse as the Coronavirus pandemic continues.

Organisations that have been successful with their bids for funding to provide these services include Children North East, Streetwise Young People’s Project and West End Women and Girls.

It is hoped that this Home Office funding will help keep vital projects going and help support groups in finding innovative new ways of remotely reaching young people at risk by using social media and new digital technologies.

Kim said: “It’s essential that every child, and every family can access support. There are teenagers who are perhaps in their first relationships, without a clear idea of what healthy, normal, acceptable behaviour looks like. There are young children who are scared and frightened. You can try and protect them but they can hear stuff downstairs, some even try to stop it themselves. They can be left traumatised by the raised voices and violence that happens in what should be their safe place, their home. We need to reach them all. They’re all victims too.”

The Commissioner explained that that 1 in 5 children are believed to experience domestic abuse, with this number expected to be even greater during lockdown.

She continued: “This problem impacts a worrying number of children and the pandemic and its restrictions has led to little or no respite for those suffering. This is why we need sufficient support to be on hand when things hit crisis point and also to help prevent it happening in the first place. We also need to be prepared for supporting children who have experienced abuse, as they return to school.

“Charities, community groups and victims services have all been hit so hard, facing the many challenges of lockdown with little or no additional support. I hope this funding helps some of our excellent services continue their vital work.”

A full list of successful bids and the services they are providing can be found here.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can report an incident by ringing 101 or visiting www.northumbria.pnn.police.uk. Also in a non-emergency situation you can text the police on 07786 200814.

In an emergency, always call 999. If you dial 999 and are unable to speak, the emergency operator will ask you to dial 55 and to follow their instruction to quickly put you in touch with police.

Help is also available From Victims First Northumbria, who can be found at www.victimsfirstnorthumbria.org.uk or on 0800 011 3116.

More information on the fund can be found at www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk/police-crime-plan/commissioning-services-grants/

Northumbria Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: “This woman has been through a series of traumatic events that led her to a court room experience none of us would ever want to go through. She deserved better than the service she got from the police, and they have rightly apologised to her.

“Now she and others need to know what went wrong. The legal issues around her complaint, and the force’s internal reviews, have meant it has been a long wait for that information. I have made clear to the police that updating her on the findings of the report into this needs to be treated as a priority.

“I want to make clear though that Northumbria Police is a force dedicated to seeking out those involved in sexual exploitation and bringing them to justice. This incident should not reflect on the force’s overall commitment and professionalism in tackling this horrific crime.”