£1 million project launches to prevent youth violence in Grangetown and Butetown
People living in Grangetown and Butetown will get the chance to shape how an investment of up to £1 million will be spent to protect young people and children from violence.
The investment is part of Youth Endowment Fund’s Neighbourhood Fund, a programme that puts community engagement and partnership at the heart of efforts to prevent violence and keep young people safe. Grangetown and Butetown has been selected as one of the places where there is the biggest opportunity to empower local communities to make change. The decision to work in Grangetown and Butetown was made after six months of speaking to local authorities, the community sector, schools, young people, the local police and places of worship.
Cardiff South Ministry Area and St Mary the Virgin Church in Wales Primary School are part of the core team leading the team. Father Dean Atkins, South Cardiff Ministry Area Leader said: “This is an exciting project which will not only change lives but also save lives. We’ll be working across Butetown and Grangetown, building on all that is good in our communities, and responding to the serious issue of knife crime in positive and productive ways. We love where we live, and we want to continue to work together to create a strong and resilient community which is safe for all, with equal opportunity and raised aspirations for the young.”
As Christians, we have a concern for all and working with mosques, schools and youth organisations means together we can achieve more.
YEF’s local partner, Citizens Cymru will hear the views of the local community, so that all decisions about the project reflect what they want to see in their local area. This will help Citizens Cymru to work with the community to develop a long-term and sustainable action plan to prevent young people from becoming involved in violence, where local people and organisations have the power to find, design and deliver the services and solutions they want to see. The (Youth Endowment Fund) YEF will provide support and invest up to £1m over a period lasting up to five years for the community to put their plans into action.
Father Dean, who is also the priest at St Mary's CF10, adds, "As Christians, we have a concern for all but is so important to work together with other partners whether mosques, schools, youth and sporting organisations. We all have something to offer, and by working together we can achieve more.
"Butetown and Grangetown are amazing communities and we are in a really good place to be able to tackle some of the serious problems which affect us."
Sarah Bowen from Tiger Bay Boxing Club, who is part of the core team leading the project, said: “It’s amazing that the communities have been recognised by YEF for our capacity to work cohesively - we are an example of how multiculturalism works. As a mother and Trustee of Tiger Bay Boxing Club, I know many young people across Butetown and Grangetown personally, they are our biggest asset! For me the YEF project will give them a voice, identify commonality and provide an opportunity to understand what factors are adversely impacting the safety and wellbeing of our future generations. Together we will co-produce solutions to bridge that gap, so that all children from all backgrounds can thrive.”
Peter Babudu, Director of Impact at the Youth Endowment Fund, said: “The Youth Endowment Fund has a unique mission – to find out what works to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence and building a movement to put that knowledge into practice.
“Through our Neighbourhood Fund, we have an incredible opportunity to understand how empowering local people in small areas can make a difference. By giving communities control of how money is spent and supporting them to deliver the programmes they want to see, we can find out how community engagement and partnership approaches help to keep children safe from violence.
“We’re delighted to be working with our partners in each of these five areas, learning together as we go. Through these partnerships – and through future rounds of our Neighbourhood Fund – we look forward to investing in local communities to offer support children and young people in their areas.”
Get involved
Do you want to get involved in shaping up to £1 million in investment in Grangetown and Butetown? Get in touch at Ali.Abdi@citizenswales.org.uk
Youth Endowment Fund
The Youth Endowment Fund is an independent charitable trust. It was founded by Impetus, a charity focused on transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people.
- Find out more at www.youthendowmentfund.org.uk
- Follow us on Twitter: @YouthEndowFund
The other areas the Neighbourhood Fund will invest in are:
- Barkerend, an inner-city area of Bradford
- Cheetham Hill, north of Manchester city centre
- Lozells - Newtown, inner-city area in West Birmingham
- Nelson, an area close to the town centre and seafront in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Photo of young people listening by Sam Bayle, Unsplash.com.