New cash for the Foxton Centre aims to reduce reoffending

L-R – Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner; Jeff Marsh, Chief Executive of the Foxton Centre; Paul, who has been working in the social enterprise.

The Foxton Centre has received £20,000 in funding to keep people who are homeless or vulnerable away from offending.

The cash, from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Reducing Reoffending Fund, will allow the centre to expand its social enterprise which builds skills and confidence for users of the centre in Avenham.

The scheme aims to help people back into work through its wood upcycling project, which sees old pallets and crates turned into birdhouses, planters and other wood products to be sold to the public.

The money from the Reducing Reoffending Fund will allow the Foxton Centre to create a dedicated workshop and shop and increase the hours the social enterprise is open.

The Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “This is a fantastic project which I am delighted to support through my Reducing Reoffending Fund.

“Seeing the way that people haven engaged in the social enterprise and become really passionate about its development, alongside the way that it complements the other crucial work being done at the Foxton Centre, is really exciting.

“Policing alone cannot prevent people reoffending and that is why I continue to support initiatives that break the cycle offenders all too often find themselves trapped in, moving them away for a life of crime.

“By thinking differently and investing relatively small amounts of money we are able to make a real impact by avoiding offenders returning through the criminal justice system, and make our communities safer places to live and work.”

The social enterprise also give users access to the other support available at the Foxton Centre such as dentistry, medical triage, food and access to IT equipment.

Jeff Marsh, Chief Executive of The Foxton Centre, said: “We are pleased to receive the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner for this innovative project.

“The funding will assist in establishing our social enterprise which is
designed to provide hands on opportunities for work experience for our service users.”

Blog Preston is supporting The Foxton Centre by taking part in the Big Sleepout at PNE. For information on how to get involved see here.