Funding received to Active Essex Foundation will help protect social and local infrastructure, supporting young people in Thurrock.
New funds will allow the charity to better embed young people within their local community, committing significant support to local projects, through their Sport and Youth Crime Prevention project.
The funding was donated by DP World, a leading provider of global end-to-end supply chain solutions, who operate London Gateway Logistics Park in Thurrock. Through a joint levy on Thames Freeport occupants, London Gateway Freeport Community Investment fund will directly sponsor and maintain a number of pilot projects across Thurrock, delivered by locally-trusted organisations working with Active Essex Foundation, before a wider rollout of the programme later this year.
This new funding will help deliver and support a range of projects, that introduce young people to new forms of physical activity, as well as mentoring and life skills sessions. Young people who otherwise wouldn’t engage with physical activity will be able to access these interventions when the funding is used to scale and replicate such projects.
Projects could include boxing and mentoring, multi-sports sessions and bespoke programme similar to the Foundations Girls Inspired course which is successfully running in Colchester.
Seeing their investment make a real difference to local people’s lives is important to DP World and to work in partnership with Active Essex Foundation to deliver this vital funding. They added; “Freeport Community Investment fund creates a joint levy that we are keen to distribute to community projects, social infrastructure and skills training in the Thurrock area.”
There was a 33.7% increase in serious violence offences compared to a statistic from 2022 which Active Essex Foundation Chairman, Bob McClintock addresses. Thurrock ranks third highest in the list of districts experiencing serious violent offences.
Active Essex Foundation Chairman, Bob McClintock said: “It is great to have the support and commitment of this type of funding to the Sport and Youth Crime Prevention Project. Statistics show an increase in the level of serious violence in Thurrock and young people have expressed their concern about feeling safe in their community. This investment will enable Active Essex Foundation, in partnership with Locally trusted organisations, to provide positive opportunities for young people.”