Police and Crime Commissioner funds new Blaenavon youth project

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd is funding a new youth club in Blaenavon.

Youth organisation HIT Community CIC is delivering a weekly session on Monday evenings from the Hwb on Broadstreet.

Children and young people can drop in between 5pm and 8pm to take part in a wide variety of games and activities including crafts, DJing, pool, and ping pong. Each week also features a cooking activity, which is chosen by young people, and is designed to develop independent living skills.

The club focuses on promoting positive values, teamwork, communication, and community responsibility. It launched in January and is already proving popular, with around 30 children and young people regularly attending.

Hannah Lewis from HIT Community CIC said: “We are very grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner for supporting this project.

“We aim to engage young people in community action projects that are positive, meaningful and that genuinely interests them. Something they can look forward to each week and take ownership of.

“These sessions give them a safe place to go, where they can spend time with friends, take part in activities, and work with us to develop their social awareness, empathy, and confidence to make good decisions.”

HIT Community CIC received money from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s community fund, which is designed to support organisations to deliver projects that tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in the community.

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd said: “We have spoken to many people in Blaenavon, and I know that there are few places for children and young people to go in the evenings which can lead to them congregating and, in some cases, causing ASB.

“The new youth club means there is now another night of the week where they have somewhere safe to go and spend time with their friends, while also being able to access the help and support of the HIT Community CIC staff.

“If you have a project that tackles crime and antisocial behaviour in the community, then I want to hear from you." www.gwent.pcc.police.uk/en/what-we-spend/commissioning.”