THOUSANDS of young people across Merseyside will gain access to new opportunities and activities designed to keep them safe, thanks to an extra £200,000 investment in the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES).

The additional funding, provided by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), is being used to expand and boost the 27 existing YES projects and fund 18 new initiatives, enabling grassroots organisations to deliver more sports, digital and creative projects, and mentoring and wellbeing programmes, all focused on preventing crime and helping young people to thrive.

The YES was launched by the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Emily Spurrell, and the MVRP in 2024 to tackle the root causes of violence by creating more safe spaces and positive opportunities for young people in the heart of their communities.

This latest boost means even more young people will have access to the projects running across Merseyside including:-

• Boxing and sports programmes to engage young people at risk of getting drawn into crime and anti-social behaviour, building their resilience.
• Creative and trauma-informed initiatives offering safe spaces and personal development opportunities.
• Mentoring and volunteering opportunities to build confidence, life skills and aspirations.
• Targeted outreach for vulnerable groups, including girls and neurodiverse young people.

 
Among the recipients of the new funding are TARGET Football CIC in Toxteth, which will use its £5,000 grant to deliver the ‘Goals for Girls’ programme, creating pathways for girls and young women aged 11–24 to get involved in football as players, volunteers and coaches, while providing wraparound advice and guidance. In Norris Green, Kinship Carers will receive £7,500 to deliver tailored activities and mentoring for young people growing up in kinship families, helping them build confidence and stability in challenging circumstances.

Other newly-funded projects include Autism Adventures Training CIC in Speke–Garston, which will offer a youth club and volunteering opportunities alongside mentoring and practical safety strategies for neurodiverse young people, tackling issues such as county lines and coercion head-on. While in Birkenhead and Tranmere, Youth Federation will carry out targeted engagement with young people who are not attending school or have been suspended or excluded to get them back in class and on track.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Emily Spurrell said:- “Investing in our young people is 1 of the most powerful ways we can prevent crime and keep our communities safe. The YES Fund gives young people hope, opportunities, and support to make positive choices. This extra £200,000 means more projects, more safe spaces, and more chances for young people to thrive – and that’s fantastic news for every community across Merseyside."

Director of the MVRP, Superintendent Georgie Garvey added:- “Every project funded through YES is helping to steer young people away from harm and towards brighter futures. The feedback from the young people benefitting from our existing YES projects, as well as the organisations which run them, is incredibly inspiring and encouraging. Even some of the smallest grants are being used to run projects which are making a massive difference. So, we’re thrilled to announcement this extra investment, designed to bolster our 27 existing projects and deliver an extra 18 programmes across Merseyside focused on preventing serious violence and creating brighter futures for young people.”

In its 1st year, YES funding was used to provide diversionary activities for nearly 12,000 young people, helping them to gain new skills, increase their confidence and resilience and unlocking their potential.

Each of the successful organisations has received a grant of between £5,000 and £25,000, with money focused in the areas of Merseyside which have seen the highest levels of violence, with the aim of keeping young people safe and supported and helping to steer them away from trouble.