SUPT SARAH JACKSON WRITES: I was delighted to see last month the range of projects here on the Island that had been successful in their bids for funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer Communities Fund.

 Five Island-specific projects will share just over £105,000 between them to fund their activities between April and next March. The Island also benefits from the work of Aurora New Dawn, Hampshire Cultural Trust, the armed forces charity SSAFA, Changing Tunes, and Barnado’s, all of which were successful in securing cash for their activities here and on the mainland.

 The commissioner sought the advice of the Community Safety Partnership on the Island and other relevant organisations before making his decision and I think the projects chosen will really assist police officers in a variety of roles across the Island.

Take for example, Newport’s Neighbourhood Policing Team. A great deal of work has been undertaken with partners as part of Operation Varney to address anti-social behaviour around the bus station and Church Litten, and we’re seeing a reduction in the number of incidents reported to us.

However with Revive Newport’s youth cafe and youth workers receiving £24,000 to run a five day-a-week support service, that includes activities for young people, and youth workers operating in locations around the town centre, we’re likely to see further improvements.

Add to this two projects being run by the Island’s Youth Offending Team. which secured funding. and it’s clear our partnership approach to preventing offending and supporting families and the most vulnerable people in our communities, will benefit from this cash injection.

 “The South Wight Area Youth Partnership also has exciting plans to help young people and families in more rural parts of the Island.

 “Other examples include music workshops for prisoners at HMP Parkhurst and ex-offenders provided by Changing Tunes, or the independent stalking advocacy caseworker, who will work for Aurora New Dawn. Following the success of UK Pride in Ryde it’s also really positive that Age UK continues to receive support here on the Island in terms of their hate crime support project.