Julian Knight MP is very pleased that the West Midlands has successfully bid for £1.8 million in funding for the Early Intervention Youth Fund.
This fund, operated by the Home Office, is a £22 million pot allocated over two years to tackle the problem of gangs and serious violence. The award follows concerted lobbying by Julian on the subject of greater police funding for the West Midlands. He and Conservative colleagues have met with the Police Minister recently.
Amongst other areas, the new funding will be used to support mentoring for young people and extending Redthread, which places youth workers in A&E departments to identify potential victims of gang violence, in three more hospitals.
Commenting on the announcement, Julian said:
“Gangs are a blight on the lives of too many young people, and I’m delighted that the Home Office has recognised our need for extra funding here in the West Midlands.
This grant will support several important programmes to identify and assist those at risk of falling into the world of gang violence, transforming and even saving lives across our region.”