Four Preston projects helping city’s homeless and young people received funding boost

St George the Martyr church off Lune Street in Preston city centre Pic: Tony Worrall — St George the Martyr church off Lune Street in Preston city centre runs a kitchen for homeless people and has received funding Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston is among the areas to receive a cut of £156,000 seized criminals cash to put towards crime-fighting schemes.

Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden has invested the money into schemed that help tackle and deter crime in the county.

This latest investment through Commissioner Snowden’s Safer Lancashire Neighbourhoods Fund (SLNF), sees cash seized from criminals go back into the communities that offenders have exploited – taking the total since the fund launched in March 2022 to £1.6m.

Four projects across Preston are being backed through the community-focused strand of the fund.

These include activities that address local anti-social behaviour concerns and offer support for vulnerable people.

Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said: “I’m really pleased that I have again been able to use cash taken from offenders to help make the communities they have blighted safer.

“Alongside our work seizing cash to show criminals crime will never pay here in Lancashire, this also allows us to put this money to good use protecting the public, which is exactly what my Safer Lancashire Neighbourhoods Fund is all about.

“By focusing on the root causes of offending, lessening the likelihood of people becoming victims of crime or getting involved in it themselves, we are supporting our proactive enforcement that where needed will put criminals where they should be, behind bars.

“I will continue to work closely with the Chief Constable to ensure that we are delivering on the priorities that the public tell me they want to see, punishing those who make life a misery for others and keeping Lancashire safe.”

The Preston projects include:

Empowering Communities receive £7,000 for the Al-Ansaar Welfare and Education in Preston aims to empower young people through workshops and sports tournaments to divert them from anti-social engagement, fostering positive community engagement and active participation.

A Football Inclusion Project from Fishwick Rangers in Preston seeks to engage young males in football activities to deter anti-social behavior and diffuse racial tensions, offering multiple sessions weekly to foster community cohesion. They’ve received £10,000.

Quwwat Education Centre in Preston aims to address social issues, empower youth, promote community cohesion, and provide resources through their multifaceted Teen Zone project, targeting various community needs and priorities. They’ve received £9,075.

And the George’s Kitchen at St George the Martyr Church in Preston city centre provides hot meals and expanded services for rough sleepers, aiming to tackle anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse while enhancing community support and well-being. They’ve received £10,000.

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