Commissioner Grunshaw visits Blackpool project backed with proceeds of crime

The Commissioner’s £3k five week programme, delivered by Rosscon Training,  engages with people identified by youth justice, local schools and local authority teams.

By engaging with those at risk of becoming victims of crime or getting involved in offending themselves, the project aims to make a long term difference to individuals and the communities they live in, whilst also providing diversionary activity during the summer holidays.

Mr Grunshaw talked to staff and learners as sessions focusing on different trades such as plastering and roofing took place, as they have done throughout the summer period. This funding ensures that vulnerable people don’t fall back into offending during the summer break and also engages people who could benefit from support going forward into the academic year.

Speaking afterwards the Commissioner said:

“It’s great to see this project in action, working with young people during what can be a challenging time, ensuring they don’t get involved in anti-social behaviour or other offending, and not become victims either, building life skills and engaging in their community.

“This project here in Blackpool is one example of the range of projects across the county that are delivering vital engagement activities throughout the summer, making our neighbourhoods safer, reducing demand on policing and investing in our communities with cash taken off offenders.

“As Commissioner, making Lancashire a safer place to live is my primary aim. This can only be achieved by getting upstream and having strong leadership, a strong police force, and strong deterrents.”

Ashleigh Threlfall from Rosscon Training said:

“We designed this project to support our vulnerable young people over the summer period, who are in danger of being groomed into criminality within the town.

“We individualise each programme so that the impact on every young person is personal to them and their needs, they get to work with “William Goldie Galloway ” Blackpool’s next boxing world champion and our young people get to spend time in “Rock Hard” music studio working on beats and recording their own music, during the programme they are mentored by “Darryl Laycock” who shares his own experiences of being involved in gangs and criminality.

“The Construction elements, give our young people the opportunity to work on tasks that they never knew they could achieve, building confidence for them to go into apprenticeships or to move on to their local college.”