Ten groups in Kirklees tackling serious violence in their communities have been given a share of £500,000.
The projects are among 45 across West Yorkshire to receive cash from the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin’s People’s Fund which turns money seized from criminals into investment to prevent violence and support those most at risk.
The 45 winning organisations were chosen by people in their communities through a series of public votes. The money was spread across all five district council areas within West Yorkshire.
Projects funded focus on key issues including knife crime, exploitation and violence against women and girls, with initiatives ranging from youth engagement and mentoring to early intervention and support services.
One of the successful Huddersfield projects which has been granted £9,960 is New Direction Services run by former martial arts world champion Rebecca Kane (below) to empower women and girls across Kirklees with a range of options including self-defence and kickboxing, dance combat and well-being support.
The programme includes 225 kickboxing and self-defence sessions, 52 motivational dance combat sessions and 52 wellbeing sessions including mental health support and addiction recovery guidance.
There will also be outreach in six schools and community centres focusing on healthy relationships, confidence and a growing peer support network.
The other nine Kirklees projects and the amount they are receiving are:
Yorkshire Mentoring and Kirklees Domestic Abuse Specialist Services – £19,800
Yorkshire Youth & Music – £9,846
Proper Job Theatre Company – £9,885
Oasis Care – £9,600
Brackenhall Community Trust/Northfield Hall CC – £9,300
Fourteen19 Social CIC t/a Youth Social – £9,888
Local Services 2 You in Deighton, Ashbrow and Huddersfield – £9,985
Gorilla Grappling Academy martial arts in Linthwaite – £9,910
Penguin Acting & Theatre Productions CIC drama school in Mirfield – £9,989
Mayor Brabin said: “Our communities know the best ways to keep their areas safe.
“Working together, we can end the scourge of serious violence and make West Yorkshire a safer, fairer place for all.”
The announcement comes as the Mayor launches a new Serious Violence Strategy for West Yorkshire which sets out a long-term approach to preventing violence, focusing on early intervention and tackling the root causes.
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content, copywriting and ghost-writing autobiographies.
