Four months ago, Warminster Town Council employed Warminster and Westbury Youth Club to deliver two sessions a week of street based detached youth work.
Now, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has given a grant to double the number of sessions to four a week.
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Warminster and Westbury Youth Club manager Beth Mullins said: “We work closely with the neighbourhood policing team, local shops and businesses and Wiltshire Council youth probation services to help support the young people and reduce youth related crime.
“Over the last four months the detached team has built up some positive relationships with the young people. These relationships have allowed us to be able to defuse situations before any police involvement and it has also led to us working closely with some shops in the town where they have seen a reduction in youth Anti-Social Behaviour with our support and intervention.
“One of the most prominent achievements for us is that we have seen a reduction in youths jumping on shops roofs. Although we have had some good results there is still work to be done. Through our work with the youth probation service, they have identified the benefit of us having more funding to deliver more sessions to help keep building those positive relationships and deter youth crime in the town.
“We are pleased to say the OPCC saw the need for this extra work in Warminster and has awarded us funding for the next six months. This will double the weekly street-based sessions we offer taking them to four sessions a week and provide funding for 1-2-1 support to be delivered in schools.
“Thanks to the support of the town council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Wiltshire Council the team will now be out every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 17.45-19.45 working with the young people in the town continuing to build positive relationships and deter youth crime.
A Warminster Town Council spokesperson said: “We are delighted that our initial funding has led to further funding being made available. This is a long-term project, and it is good to see positive early results.”
For more information contact Warminster Town Council, Tel: 01985 214847 or email: admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk
Last modified: 6 November 2024
