Commissioner backs Newport Youth project

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd is supporting the Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team’s (EYST) Urban Safe Project in Newport.

Youth workers host four drop-in sessions a week across the city, offering young people a safe place to go, activities to take part in, and support with schoolwork, CV writing, and job interview techniques.

Around 500 young people have accessed the project since it launched last year.

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd said: “This is a fantastic project that gives young people in our communities a safe space and a safe, familiar face they can turn to for help, support, and to have fun with their friends.

“The project’s growth speaks to its success, and I am pleased to have be able to support it through my Community Fund.”

The project supports the priorities set out in the Commissioner’s Police, Crime and Justice Plan and is partially funded using money recovered from the proceeds of crime. Community groups can apply to the fund for grants ranging from £1,000 to £50,000 to support local initiatives.

Nazrul Islam from EYST said: “We have received an overwhelmingly positive response to this project, which has led us to expand the number of sessions available. One of our greatest strengths is that the youth workers delivering these sessions grew up in the same communities as the young people they support. This gives us a first-hand understanding of the challenges they face and the support they need.

“Young people value having a safe, welcoming environment where they can socialise, build skills, and feel listened to, and funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner is enabling us to provide exactly that.”