Young people score a winner at the PFCC-backed Essex Community Goals event

The PFCC-backed VVU joined with Essex Police for the Essex Community Goals event at Essex Police HQ.

Community Goals brings together more than 170 12 and 13-year-olds to play football, have fun and work as a team in the bright Essex sunshine. The young people, from across Essex, interacted with police officers which increases and builds trust between the young people and officers, breaking down barriers and preconceptions.

The day is designed to build resilience in the young people and strengthen factors which are known to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, for example, having access to trusted adults and safe spaces.

Representatives from the VVU and PFCC spent the day chatting to young people about their love of sport, their ambitions and hopes for the future and every player received a medal sponsored by the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner. Essex VVU Youth Resource Network reaches into communities and plays an active role in providing aspiration and opportunity and contributing to making communities even safer – connecting young people to opportunities which are available but they may not be aware of or are reticent about approaching.