A Warsop man got a tattoo to celebrate gaining funding for a project that aims to steer young people away from anti-social behaviour and crime.

Wayne Williamson-Cooper, chair of Warsop Youth & Community Chair, had the youth club logo tattooed on to his arm after securing £10,000 from the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) Make Notts Safe Fund.

PCC Caroline Henry visited Warsop Youth & Community to see for herself the work it does and learn what more it can deliver with the funding. 

She learned how Wayne celebrated writing his first solo bid for funding with the lasting impression! 

The funding boost will enable the club to run an ASB outreach project, including outreach patrols, to engage with vulnerable young people who may be involved in, or at risk of involvement in, criminal activities and anti-social behaviour.

The money will also support a mentoring scheme and allow the youth club to run an extra night a week.

Wayne said: “Thanks to the great work the Commissioner is doing with the Make Notts Safe Fund, we at Warsop Youth & Community can carry on with the work we do in our community with our ongoing outreach programme and our youth club and tackle anti-social behaviour head on.

“On behalf of myself, my team and the kids of Warsop — thank you.”

The commissioner said: “Preventing crime is one of my key priorities as your commissioner, which is precisely what the youth club seeks to do through engaging young people.

“I am delighted the funding I made available through the Makes Notts Safe Fund will enable them to deliver more preventative work.” 

Sixteen organisations, including Warsop Youth & Community, were awarded a total of £131,008 of funding from the fund.

Organisations could bid for up to £10,000 for projects focused on preventing crime, responding to issues of greatest concern to communities, and delivering victim and community support services. 

The commissioner added: “This fund puts the power back in the hands of organisations on the ground to help us deliver real change by funding projects that have a tangible impact on making residents feel safer.

“I look forward to seeing the impact of the projects funded through the Make Notts Safe Fund on communities across Nottinghamshire as I work with our third-sector organisations to tackle crime and support victims.”

The Make Notts Safe Fund is part of the commissioner’s wider plans to assist the work carried out by organisations within communities to improve safety across Nottinghamshire. She is planning on making available further Make Notts Safe funding rounds in 2022/23, subject to future funding confirmation.

λOther projects to receive funding included YMCA Newark and Sherwood for its Sport and Outreach for NEET Young People.

Its project will provide a range of community-led positive activities for young people as well as outreach work to identify those at risk of, or already engaged in, anti-social behaviour.

Redthread, a youth violence intervention programme at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton, won funding for its work to help young people who are victims of violence and exploitation.

Fierce Start Fitness can extend its outreach, prevention and diversion work in Mansfield and Sutton, supporting young people through sports and aiming to tackle a rise in negative influences in the areas, thanks to a £10,000 award.