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On 22 August North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin visited CPD Bangor 1876 at their free soccer skills session in Maesgeirchen, Bangor to learn more about how the funding from the PCC’s Summer Sports Fund has benefitted local young people and members of the football club.
The Summer Sports Fund was originally launched in June to provide sporting activities for young people and to help combat issues of anti-social behaviour (ASB) during the school holidays. ASB can often spike over the summer months and sport can play a significant role in reducing it by offering positive and structured activities for young people. The fund was open to providers from across North Wales and was an outstanding success, with 26 organisations benefiting from the £25,000 allocated throughout the region.
CPD Bangor 1876 applied for funding in order to provide football training sessions during the summer for boys and girls aged up to 13, with youngsters as young as 4 years old attending.
The club was established in 2019 and was created to preserve and build on Bangor’s unique and deep footballing history. The name Bangor 1876 is a nod to the origins of organised football in Bangor, which can be traced back to a public meeting held in the Magistrates Room on 18 December 1876. Then, as now, the aim was to ensure the continuity of competitive football of the highest possible standard in the city and its catchment area.
The club’s first team plays in the second tier of the Welsh football pyramid but also focuses heavily on community engagement and grassroots development, aiming to build a positive football culture in Bangor. The club provides a safe a structured environment for young people, offering them positive activities and a sense of belonging. By engaging young people through sport, the club can help divert them away from possible ASB and keep the young people focused on teamwork, discipline, and personal development.
During the visit the PCC met members and players from the club and also had the opportunity to watch the players being coached.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner commented: “It was a pleasure to visit Maesgeirchen and meet the coaches and youngsters at CPD Bangor 1876. As Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, making sure that children and young people have a place where they can have fun but also stay safe is very important. CPD Bangor 1876 is an excellent example of how my Summer Sports Fund has helped young people across North Wales with an opportunity to stay active, develop valuable life skills, and build positive relationships.
“ASB can have a detrimental effect on the community, and I am committed to preventing it. My plan for fighting crime in North Wales focuses on delivering safer neighbourhoods and supporting communities and the initiative from CPD Bangor 1876 is a great example of how a football club can help bring communities together and work to help reduce the risk of ASB in an area.”
CPD Bangor 1876 commented: “We are grateful to the PCC for his support to this partnership venture with Partneriaeth Maesgeirchen Partnership (PMP) and Adra which allows young people from the Maesgeirchen and Hirael areas to enjoy sessions which focus on developing skills and teamwork and promote their future wellbeing.”