A charity working in County Durham communities to prevent crime and keep young people safe has received a major funding boost. 

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen has approved funding of about £37,000 to The Cornforth Partnership to support its plans to expand youth provision in the Cornforth, Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill, Chilton and Newton Aycliffe communities. 

It means children and young adults will have improved access to leisure and learning opportunities.

The award-winning charity has delivered youth and community work for more than 26 years, working with local authorities to provide key local services and activities, including supporting people struggling with acute poverty or those trying to find work.

The award-winning charity has delivered youth and community work for more than 26 yearsThe award-winning charity has delivered youth and community work for more than 26 years (Image: Durham Police and Crime Commissioner)

While Cornforth and other pit villages in the defunct Durham coalfield have changed, demand has increased.

The charity also offers mentoring, social activities, employment training, and tackles isolation and loneliness among the local elderly population. More than 2,500 people have been supported this year thanks to the tireless volunteers working daily. 

The PCC's grant will support a new pilot involving Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations, local authorities, schools and the police with four key goals:

  • To create an Area Youth Forum bringing providers and services together regularly to discuss how to improve outcomes for young people in the area and agree a collective plan of action based on data.
  • To deliver youth work training to increase the capacity and skills of the local community to provide additional youth programmes and work and increase the skills of staff and volunteers at local organisations.
  • To recruit dedicated youth work staff who will coordinate the project and work with schools, youth organisations and communities to gather feedback on the needs of young people and relay this to the Area Youth Forum.
  • To provide funding for social activities and new opportunities to engage young people, covering the purchase of equipment and resources to add value to existing provision. 

New youth worker roles will be created thanks to the funding, working with schools to deliver awareness sessions around prominent issues impacting young people including online safety, substance misuse, vaping and sex and relationships.

Recommended reading: 

Subscribe to The Northern Echo now.

Commissioner Allen said: "One of the many strengths of this project is the attention being given to gathering the voice of young people themselves. We know from experience that programmes driven and designed by young people for young people are more successful, and I am pleased that project leaders recognise this and have built-in continuous engagement with young people moving forward. 

"We know that a lack of meaningful activities and safe spaces for young people to socialise and develop can contribute to increased anti-social behaviour. This funding will not only build on current provision but will create the right infrastructure to sustain youth provision in the future with the rollout of important training.

"I am looking forward to monitoring the achievements of the programme in the future."