CHILDREN and young people in two youth organisations operating in Thurrock have a brighter future thanks to grants from the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VUU).

 The unit undertakes interventions, awareness and education programmes to support young people, families and communities to live positive lives free of crime.

VVU is a multi-agency partnership, bringing together Essex Police, Police and Fire Commissioner's Office FCC, Youth Offending Service, Probation, Councils and Health to share information, tackle crime and safeguard vulnerable victims.

The partnership has delivered £42,923 split between two groups working to help and support young people in the borough at risk of being exposed to or led into crime, or who have been a victim of crime.

 The charities that will benefit from the grants are:

Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, who have received £24,989 to develop 'Theatre For All', a new creative programme for young people in several locations across Essex including Thurrock.

Riverview Charitable Trust, who have received £17,934 to help deliver physical and mental health support through multi-sports and crafts activities to young people aged eight to18.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, the chair of the partnership congratulated all the charities across Essex that are recipients in the latest round of VVU funding, saying: "Crime is preventable; tackling violence and protecting our young and vulnerable people are key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan. The VVU grant supports activities that give children and young people access to mentoring, counselling, friendships and trusted adults. Many offer positive activities for young people to get involved with – sport, drama, youth clubs – and provide targeted support away from involvement in violent crime or antisocial behaviour."

Mr Hirst continued: "All the charities we are funding are committed to protecting young people, to give them a better future. By working together, we can make Essex a safer place for children to live and grow up in."

Riverview Charitable Trust will be using the money to keep their youth clubs open for weekly activities and mental health support for local young people.

The grant will allow them to continue offering open access to a safe space in Purfleet-on-Thames, for activities, plus mentoring support and intervention.

Previously, the funding supported a 14-year-old beginner at table tennis, who became quickly skilled and placed third in a county-wide tournament.

Rio Odeku, Youth Lead at Riverview said: "Growing up and now working in Purfleet, seeing the day-to-day of how much the young people here enjoy being part of our youth clubs, being awarded this VVU grant for the next year will provide a much needed boost to a community of young people that deserves it!"

Members of Essex Boys and Girls Club.

Essex Boys and Girls Club will use the funding to help fund a new project for young people aged 11 and over.

They aim to use theatre arts to promote youth voice and enable young people to take part in engaging and creative workshops led by theatre and youth work professionals. They also hope to provide a safe space for young people . 

 Jessica Pease, Arts Development Officer, Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, said: "We are delighted to receive the funding and are excited to be able to offer theatre for all.

"This is a programme for young people, inspired by young people, and we are passionate about creating dynamic, fun and engaging workshops which allow young people to feel empowered, inspired and listened to.

"This will be a place where young people can make positive choices about the issues that concern them and inspire their communities through their own performances. The funding enables to us to offer so much more to our young people and we cannot wait to get started."

 To discover more about the VVU, visit www.essexvvu.co.uk. For more on Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, visit www.essexboysandgirlsclubs.org and for more on Riverview Charitable Trust, visit www.riverview.org.uk.