Young people attending Britwell’s Slough youth club are hitting the high notes with their brand new music centre, funded by a £36,000 grant from the Communities Cash-back Scheme.
Slough Borough Council secured the money last November as part of its Justice Seen, Justice Done campaign and the newly completed project will also enable the centre to open on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Slough centre already opens two nights a week and runs activity programmes through all the school holidays. These extra evening sessions will see on average 30 young people through its doors, with the holiday activities seeing more than 100 a day.
Kam Bhatti, neighbourhood crime and justice co-ordinator for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re committed to making sure the young people of Slough have the best services available to them and with the funding we secured, this has helped us deliver.
“The young people are so excited about the new music centre and longer opening times. The views of local communities, and us being responsive to them, are critical to the public having confidence in seeing a criminal justice system that works for them.”
Ch Insp Kate Ford, deputy LPA commander for Slough, added: “This is an excellent example of community and partners working closely together to provide a resource that make a positive impact on the lives of young people on the Britwell. It demonstrates that the partnership does actively listen to the voice of the community and responds visibly and decisively to their needs.
Commissioner for Slough opportunity and skills, Cllr Fiza Matloob, added: “Thanks to the assets recovered as part of Justice Seen, Justice Done, young people can now enjoy greater facilities at this local youth centre. Well done to the team for securing the funding which is a real boost for young people in this area.”
The intention of the funding was to deliver projects that have been proposed or voted for by members of the local Slough community and which will address the effects of the fear of crime or anti-social behaviour in the area.
Votes took place in August last year and the public voted for Britwell youth club to get the funding, competing against 13 other projects in the Thames Valley. A total of £90,000 was up for grabs, of which the council secured £36,000.
Asset recovery can be an effective tool in building public confidence. It demonstrates to communities that criminals whose lifestyle is funded through crime, often serious organised crime, are being brought to justice and the proceeds of their criminal activities are being taken from them.
Community Cash back aims to give communities more of a say in how recovered assets are spent locally.
Slough Borough Council
