Delivered by Accrington Stanley Community Trust, sports sessions will be taking place during school holiday periods in five wards across the borough, Spring Hill, Clayton-Le-Moors, Milnshaw, Central and Church.
Locations were identified in partnership with local police and based on local concerns. Similar sessions have previously seen decreases in anti-social behaviour reports whilst bringing communities together.
The Commissioner visited a session taking place in Clayton-Le-Moors after agreeing to back the project, with investment through his Safer Lancashire Neighbourhoods Fund seeing £9,500 of cash seized from criminals put back into the local community.
Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said:
“Getting tough on anti-social behaviour is a top priority in my Fighting Crime Plan and whilst enforcement is rightly at the forefront of this approach, investment like this in Hyndburn through my Safer Lancashire Neighbourhood to address ASB concerns and deter offending is a crucial part of our work to make Lancashire safer.
“It’s a poetic irony that by taking cash out of criminals’ pockets, we are able to make areas safer, support the work that officers do around the clock to protect the public and strengthen local communities.
“I will continue to work closely with the Chief Constable to ensure that we are delivering on the priorities that the public tell me they want to see, punishing those who make life a misery for others and keeping Lancashire safe.”
Lee Walsh, Head of Sport and Health at Accrington Stanley Community Trust said:
‘’This funding will allow us to take our activities into the areas that need them the most, by targeting areas experiencing anti-social behaviour we can provide activities for young people that our positive, healthy and will divert them away from trouble, after successful sessions over the summer where we engaged with over 100 young people this investment will allows us to continue the provision for the next 12 months.’’
For more information on the Safer Lancashire Neighbourhoods Fund, visit lancashire-pcc.gov.uk/grant-funding/safer-lancashire-neighbourhoods-fund or email funding@lancashire-pcc.gov.uk