THE Melksham-based local charity 4Youth (South West), has been awarded a £3,000 grant from the Wiltshire High Sheriff Fund to support their work addressing issues including youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
The money will be used to help the charity – formerly known as Young Melksham – fund more youth workers to go out into problem areas and connect with young people.
The group, based at the Canberra Centre, has identified areas of the town where there have been incidences of drug taking, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and thefts of bikes and scooters from younger children, and wants its workers to engage with teenagers who may be at risk of offending.
Trustee Beverley Martin said, “Our youth workers begin building relationships with young people in the parks and areas where they congregate.
“They are able to advise and guide appropriate behaviour and encourage attendance at the Canberra Centre, where dedicated work can be undertaken to support relationship building, self-confidence, community minded- ness and explore the impact of anti-social behaviour on others.”
She said Wiltshire Police have reported a drop in anti-social behaviour after previous similar initiatives.
The local charity was one of many across Wiltshire awarded a share of the £12,000 available from the Wiltshire High Sheriff Fund.
The fund, which has been held with Wiltshire Community Foundation since 1988, is designed to help grassroots charities and groups working to help victims of crime and past offenders as well as preventing young people being drawn into offending.
Among the panel members awarding grants was outgoing High Sheriff Sir Charles Hobhouse, previous incumbent Ashley Truluck and former Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson.
To ensure as many applicants as possible were funded, the balance of £2,696 from the 2021 Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund was also awarded.
Wiltshire Community Foundation joint chief executive Fiona Oliver thanked Sir Charles Hobhouse for his support during the year. She said, “Each year the High Sheriff Fund supports vital projects which bring communities together to tackle local issues and make a real difference to people across Wiltshire and Swindon.
“Sir Charles has been a tremendous advocate for the voluntary and community sector, helping to raise the profile of many groups and charities who are working so hard to support our communities. In addition to the £12,000 awarded through the High Sheriff Fund, Sir Charles raised an additional £13,700 through his High Sheriff Summer Fete at Monkton Farleigh Manor last July. These funds were awarded to ten organisations helping young people with their mental health last August.
“We really value the ongoing relationships we have with each year’s High Sheriff of Wiltshire and look forward to working closely with Sir Charles’s successor, Lady Lansdowne.”
To find out more about the community foundation’s work, go to wiltshirecf.org.uk.
