Police and Crime Commissioner boosts support for young people in the Aber Valley

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd is continuing her support for young people in the Aber Valley.

Commissioner Mudd has allocated funding from her Community Fund to enable the Senghenedd Youth Drop‑In Centre (SYDIC) to continue running weekly drop‑in sessions for young people.

Young people attending the drop‑in sessions can access a wide range of services, including IT and Wi‑Fi, gaming, arts and creative workshops, cooking sessions, physical activities and mental health support. The funding will also allow youth workers to deliver activities during school holidays and provide training on issues including substance misuse, online safety and risk‑taking behaviour.

More than 100 young people have regularly accessed the service so far in 2026.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd said: “I am pleased to continue supporting the team at SYDIC to provide a much‑needed youth provision in an area where there is limited support for young people.

“Earlier this year, a horrific murder in Abertridwr left many young people seeking a safe space and trusted adults to talk to. As a result, the centre saw an increase in attendance. It is reassuring to see young people engaging positively and feeling confident accessing support from staff.

“By supporting communities to deliver the services they know are most needed locally, we are helping to create safer environments for young people while also reducing demand on frontline public services.”

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.

Senior youth worker Matthew Thorne said: “Many young people come to us needing support with emotional wellbeing, relationships, managing conflict and building positive friendship groups. We provide a safe space, meaningful activities, and opportunities to support education and employment.

“These services are vital in a rural area like the Aber Valley, and we would like to thank the Police and Crime Commissioner for her continued support.”