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Porthi Dre Youth Club in Caernarfon recently received funding from Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin’s Innovate to Grow scheme to expand its work, and the PCC visited on 16 October to learn more about the organisation’s valuable work in the community and to see how the funding will benefit them.
The youth club is based in Caernarfon and runs every Wednesday between 6-8pm. It is a space to support and empower young people and where they can engage with each other and make friends. It offers a wide range of activities for the young people and prepares meals for them every time they go.
The funding will help grow music activities at the club, as there is a recognition that traditional music lessons and tuition are often inaccessible for children attending the club from lower income homes. Another key aim of the project is to set-up classes on online safety and start a dialogue around content that young people are seeing online and therefore to help support better mental health and to understand the content they might see better.
A further part of the plan is to upgrade the facilities at the club by creating a more inviting and functional space for the members. This will create a further safe and supportive environment that is vital in reducing instances of anti-social behaviour and contributing to a safer community environment.
While at Porthi Dre, PCC Andy Dunbobbin met the staff and attendees at the youth club and discussed how the funding from the OPCC will benefit them. The PCC saw activities on offer for the members of the youth club and saw firsthand how the youth club is supporting the young people.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin commented: “I was delighted to visit Porthi Dre youth club in Caernarfon. The youth club provides a safe and supportive environment for the young people in the community and it is extremely important to me as PCC for North Wales to help support initiatives like this. The youth club is a crucial place for young people in Caernarfon to socialise and develop and it is important that they have a safe space where they can go.
“I hope that the funding from my office will fully support them with further developing the youth club and supporting the local community in Caernarfon.”
Staff at Porthi Dre commented: “We are incredibly grateful for the funding from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, as well as the ongoing support from our local police. This funding is crucial, enabling us to keep our doors open every Wednesday evening throughout the winter, providing a safe space where children can enjoy a free hot meal, socialise, and engage in activities. It also helps cover the cost of food and allows us to bring in freelancers to run workshops that might spark new interests in the children.
Our aim is to offer a wide variety of activities at the Youth Club, giving young people the chance to explore different skills and passions. For example, during Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin’s visit, we will be hosting a workshop with a local artist. This support benefits not only the children but the wider community too, helping to create safer streets, reduce anti-social behaviour, and provide work and volunteering opportunities for many local people.”
The funding for Porthi Dre comes from the PCC’s Innovate to Grow scheme, which targets and invests in projects dealing with the root causes of crime across North Wales, especially ones that offer new and innovative ideas of preventing and tackling wrongdoing. To find out more about how to apply for the scheme, visit: www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk/innovate-grow
To find out more information about Porthi Dre visit: https://www.porthidre.cymru/