Community projects awarded more than £2,000
Two Test Valley Borough Council-led community projects have been awarded a total of more than £2,000 by Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner’s Communities Fund.
The Big Band Buffet social and safety music event, and the Intervention, Communication, Education (ICE) scheme have both been awarded four-figure sums.
The Test Valley Partnership, of which the council is a member, organises the Big Band Buffet, which offers a social event with safety advice to those over the age of 55.
The Big Band Buffet for 2020 has now been awarded £1,150 towards the event that helps advise vulnerable residents who may be at higher risk of becoming victims of crime or anti-social behaviour, and of social isolation.
The council, police, fire service and other support agencies are available for crime prevention and safety advice for residents, all while listening to live music and grabbing a bite to eat.
On top of that, the ICE scheme has been awarded an additional £1,000 by the same fund.
The ICE project provides a multi-agency focus on early intervention with young people. Through workshops, youngsters are educated on actions and consequences relating to fire safety, hate crimes, drugs and anti-social behaviour among other topics.
In December, the scheme was shortlisted for a national award in the Youth Justice category of the Children and Young People Awards 2018.
Test Valley Borough Council’s community and leisure portfolio holder, councillor Tony Ward, said: “The funding that has been secured is a testament to the hard work of those who help to organise and run these vital community projects.
“We are very grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane, for this funding and I’m sure it will go towards helping these fantastic projects over the next year.”
PCC Michael Lane said: “Working with local teams is key to my ability to target local priorities and support better outcomes for residents.
“Reducing offending, supporting victims and protecting the vulnerable are an absolute priority and sit appropriately alongside enabling effective operational policing.”