The Salvation Army in Woodhouse, Sheffield have received £4,425 grant funding from the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings during a visit on Tuesday, 7 November 2017.

The Commissioner visited the Salvation Army Woodhouse Corps to hear about how they work with hard to reach young people, many of whom are excluded from school. The project aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and work towards making these young people less vulnerable to exploitation.

The project funded by the commissioner’s community grant scheme will cover the Woodhouse and Handsworth area of Sheffield where 30.6% of children are living in poverty and where there are areas of deprivation.

Dr Billings said: “The work of the Salvation Army in Woodhouse and Handsworth is providing young people with an opportunity to do activities at a time when there is very little to do and the evenings get darker and colder.

“These young people don’t necessarily want to cause nuisance, but sometimes due to the lack of activities they get into mischief.  Local residents sometimes feel unsafe because there are young people hanging about on the streets.

“By engaging with the Salvation Army, there is the opportunity for them to get involved in and channel their energies positively, benefiting the local community.

Andrew Watson, Salvation Army Woodhouse Corps said: “This project has been a real example of partnership in action and a great model for other communities in South Yorkshire between South Yorkshire Police, The Salvation Army, Sheffield Futures, Sheffield City Council and the Woodhouse and District  Community Forum (representatives in the photo).

“None of this would have been possible without the Commissioner’s grant which has enabled young people to come to a safe, positive project were they are able to learn new skills and consequences of their actions in a safe and positive environment.”

The funding will pay for sessions with the young people across 38 weeks and six targeted workshops.