Youth spaces in Bedford to benefit from a cash boost thanks to Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner

Young people from Bedford Academy took part in the decision making process
Young people were invited to take part in the decision making processYoung people were invited to take part in the decision making process
Young people were invited to take part in the decision making process

Spaces for young people are set to receive a cash boost thanks to Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye

Council leaders from across Bedfordshire were invited to bid into the Commissioner’s Youth Spaces Fund.

Bids were encouraged to either make spaces safer or to provide safe spaces to go to for young people.

Over £40,000 worth of bids were received so the young people of Bedford Academy were asked to take part in analysing the bids and help decide where the money should be allocated.

Students from Shefford-based Youth Involvement and Denbigh High school also joined the event on Tuesday hosted by the PCC and Chief Executive of the office of the PCC Clare Kelly.

The winning bids included a Youth Voices Bedford's bid to create a safe space for young people to access during the summer holidays - to run adjacent to the Town Turnover programme, a shelter at Millennium Park in Flitwick and a scheme of activitites at Silsoe sports centre during the school holidays.

The winners will receive the money in the next few weeks.

Commissioner Akinbusoye said “One of the best things decision-makers can do is to empower the people they are trying to support. I offered the chance to our young people to make decisions on behalf of their generation and they did not disappoint. They worked together and showed decisiveness as they worked through carefully all the options we gave them.”

The fund of money has become available to the Commissioner because of the Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit grant that was won this year.