PCC helps charity plant seeds for a brighter future

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg has backed a charity’s attempts to steer young people away from a life of re-offending.

Grow 4 Good, based in the grounds of Dartmoor Zoo, Sparkwell, aims to use horticultural work to reduce social isolation in young people which can lead them into lives of crime.

It received a grant of £2,789 from Tony Hogg’s small grant scheme for a new project called Ticket 2 Work which allows 12 people between 16 and 25 to achieve the City and Guilds NPTC level 2 certificate of competence in brushcutting.

It gives participants the opportunity to achieve a recognised qualification and improve their future training and employment chances.

Dave Sharp, head gardener at Grow 4 Good, said: “The participants will be young people aged between 16 and 25 who are at risk of social exclusion, who may have already offended or be at risk of re-offending.

“The training is particularly suited to those for whom formal education has not succeeded or had little impact. Many present a high risk of offending due to a lack of opportunity, economic poverty, social isolation and poverty of aspiration.”

Grow 4 Good project was set up in 2011 to reduce social isolation and the likelihood of offending or re-offending of young people by improving participants' personal, social and life skills.

“This is very exciting for us as the grant enables us to reach a minimum of 12 young people whose lives could be turned around, and we are very grateful to have this great opportunity,” said Mr Sharp.

“This project enables us to extend provision for employability in an environment where young people feel valued, motivated, positively challenged and rewarded.” added Dave.

“I’m a firm believer that working outdoors in small numbers and a supportive environment is a great way to enable young people to achieve where formal education may not have had an impact.”

Tony Hogg, who himself has been involved in charity work with young people, said: “This is exactly the kind of project which we hoped to help through the small grant scheme.

“In all we helped 25 charities, giving out around £100,000 and we know that in these cases a relatively small amount of money can have a disproportionately large impact on those that benefit as a result.”

Round two of the small grant scheme has recently been opened to applications. In this round 40 per cent of the overall sum has been ring-fenced for projects which deal with the harm caused by alcohol.

For more information and to download the application form go to the OPCC website.

The closing date for applications is the end of May 2013 and awards will be made in early July.

Anyone unable to download the application form should contact
Ruth Eyles (small grants administrator) on:
Phone: 01392 430228
Email: pccsmallgrantscheme@gmail.com