Commissioner backs summer programme to steer young people away from crime

The “Drop the Blade, Pick a Trade” initiative, delivered by Rosscon, has received £5,000 through the Commissioner’s Community Fund following support from Blackpool South MP Chris Webb. The programme will run over the summer holidays, providing structured daily activities for young people most at risk.

Taking place at the Rosscon Training Unit, the scheme will combine practical skills training, mentoring, and targeted prevention work to support positive life choices and reduce the risks associated with street-based activity.

The programme will include hands-on training in construction and green skills, alongside workshops focused on knife crime awareness, substance misuse, and the consequences of criminal activity. Participants will also benefit from sport, wellbeing sessions, and creative activities designed to build confidence and resilience.

Police officers will take part in prevention sessions, helping to build positive relationships with young people and strengthen trust within the community.

The initiative responds to clear local need in Blackpool, where rates of crime and anti-social behaviour remain among the highest in Lancashire, with young people disproportionately affected.

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said:

“This is a fantastic example of how we can use money taken from criminals to invest in prevention and create real opportunities for young people.

“We know the summer holidays can be a high-risk period for some young people, particularly those vulnerable to exploitation or involvement in crime. Providing structured activity, support and positive role models is absolutely vital in helping to break that cycle.

“Programmes like this not only reduce the risks in the short-term, but also support longer-term outcomes by helping young people build skills, confidence and pathways into education, training and employment.”

The scheme will bring together a wide range of partners, including local police, youth services, schools and community organisations, ensuring young people receive coordinated and tailored support throughout the programme.

Chris Webb MP said:

“I’m so pleased to have helped secure funding for this programme at Rosscon, which has a strong track record of giving young people practical skills and real opportunities.

“The summer holidays can be a difficult time for some young people and it can become easier for them to get drawn into anti-social behaviour and crime. We need to get ahead of those problems, rather than waiting until the damage is done.

“This project gives young people structure, support and the chance to learn skills they can use in the future, helping them stay safe and make positive choices.

“Visiting Rosscon it’s clearer than ever that when we back our young people they step up. That’s what this funding will help deliver over the summer.”

Danny Rossie, Managing Director at Rosscon Training said:

“The ‘Drop the Blade, Pick a Trade’ summer programme is far more than a project – it is an opportunity to change the direction of a young person’s life. Every day at Rosscon Training, we work with some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities; young people who may have experienced trauma, exclusion, poverty, exploitation, or who simply feel that society has given up on them. We refuse to let that happen.

“Thanks to the incredible support and funding provided by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw and MP Chris Webb, we have been able to create positive opportunities that show young people there is another path. Through practical vocational training, mentoring, positive role models, and honest conversations about the devastating consequences of criminality and knife crime, we help young people understand that their future does not have to be defined by poor choices or difficult circumstances.

“At Rosscon, our ethos is simple: we leave nobody behind. We believe every young person deserves someone who believes in them, invests in them, and helps them realise their potential. Through care, nurture, prevention, and education, we support young people and young adults into employment, apprenticeships, further education, and meaningful futures. We don’t just teach trades; we build confidence, resilience, aspiration, and hope.

“Blackpool is full of opportunity, talent, and potential. Programmes like ‘Drop the Blade, Pick a Trade’ help young people see those possibilities for themselves and understand that they can play a positive role in shaping their own future and their community.

“On behalf of everyone at Rosscon Training, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Clive Grunshaw and Chris Webb. Their belief in our mission and their commitment to investing in prevention rather than consequence is making a genuine difference to lives across our town. Together, we are not only helping young people make safer choices today—we are helping to create stronger families, safer communities, and brighter futures for generations to come.”

The Commissioner’s Community Fund reinvests money recovered from criminals into local projects that reduce crime, prevent reoffending and improve community safety across Lancashire. To find out more and how to apply visit https://www.lancashire-pcc.gov.uk/grant-funding/