PFCC funding helps young people experience new adventures

A break away from social media and the stresses of everyday life left smiles on the faces of young people.

A group of 30 young people from Rochford spent two days away from it all at Thriftwood Scout Camp Site, in Brentwood.

They put their mobile phones to one side as they tried out kayaking, the zipwire and high ropes and socialised together.

The trip was organised by Kaos Youth Club, which was set up eight years ago to give the young people of Rochford somewhere to get together and spend their time positively.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), said: “It’s no secret that young people with nothing to do can find themselves hanging around the streets, mixing with people who provide a negative influence and tempting them into anti-social behaviour, taking drugs or committing crime."

The PFCC contributed £5,000 to Kaos Youth Group in the form of a crime and disorder reduction grant from the 2023-2024 Community Safety Development Fund to enable it to continue to provide the club and its activities.

Roger added: “In Essex, we are all about ‘prevention is better than cure’. We do not want to wait until this negative path has been trodden, we want to create a diversion, to offer our youngest residents positive opportunities and past-times to ensure they head towards a bright future.

“It is by supporting work by groups such as Kaos Youth Club that we will ensure our young people are guided in the right way.”

Children aged eight to 16 are able to enjoy activities from football and basketball to cooking and crafts at Stambridge Memorial Hall.

They are also given the opportunity to go on trips, including kayaking, ice skating, go-karting and paintballing or join the club’s girls’ football team.

Chairman Darren Parsons said: “The young people we took away absolutely loved it. There are some things these young people would not get to do otherwise, such as kayaking, so this was a first-time experience for them. We try to give them experiences they have never had.

“To see the smiles on their faces, we know this is worth it. They were running around, socialising with their friends with no dramas. Taking them away from social media and all the fighting among themselves and bullying is so important; I just want them to be happy and to have these new experiences.”

Of the PFCC funding, Darren said: “This money helps me to keep things afloat. It gives me the funds for renting the hall, putting on activities such as kayaking at Hadleigh Park, rollerskating and cookery sessions.

“It is fantastic. It takes the pressure off, so I know I can carry on. It gets harder every year to secure funding, but the expenses all add up; rent, insurance, it goes on.

“If I were not here doing this, who would be there for these young people? I have got to do this as there is nobody else doing what I am doing the way I am doing it – and it works.”

Up to 70 children gather at the club at a time.