Bath Vegan Food Bank was started in May 2020 in response to the rise in the use of food banks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been run from the founder’s home until now, with volunteers collecting the food parcels from the doorstep and delivering them directly to clients’ homes. They're now looking for a base where volunteers can also come to help sort and pack, and where clients can come to collect the food parcels (by appointment and on a contact-free basis). Unfortunately, they don’t have any budget for this so they are hoping that there might an organisation who has some spare space they’re happy for us to use for storage and to have access to two days a week (preferably a Friday and Saturday), even on a short-term basis. Contact: info@vegansagainstworldhunger.org

Public Health England have just launched a new and free online training course Psychological First Aid: Supporting Children and Young People. This is suitable for anyone who cares for or works with 0 - 25 year olds including parents, caregivers, teachers, social workers, health workers, charity workers, or those who work in community or social support settings. It is also suitable for young adults aged 13 and above to support their peers or family. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is used across the world to support people during emergencies and difficult times. It involves giving practical help, encourages positive coping and gives hope, so that children, young people and their families can feel safe, connected and able to help themselves. PFA draws on participant’s existing abilities to engage and support others. You do not need to be a specialist By the end of this course participants will: help those in distress find solutions to their needs and problems know more about children and young people’s reactions to potentially traumatic experiences at different ages have better knowledge and confidence to support children and young people during and after crisis or difficult situations , as well as to be able to identify children and young people who would benefit from PFA understand how to better support themself and peers in such crises

Practical training to help adapt your services and know what to do next with digital. Designed modularly so you can choose how much time to commit. All free for nonprofits in England working with communities affected by Covid-19. See courses on offer below: Developing a cyber resilient organisation - this course helps you review, adapt and optimise your cyber security plan for how to handle a cyber security incident Digital safeguarding for your services - a series of webinars to provide an introduction to digital safeguarding and a step by step guide to implementing digital safeguarding Digital Product Management - support to develop a clear plan for a new digital product or service Prototyping workshops - practical support to develop prototyping skills within your organisation Managing your data in a pandemic - a health check to support organisations to understand how to protect data when working remotely Building strong relational skills to sustain organisational change - workshops to support teams to strengthen their relationships and ways of working to achieve sustainable change One to one mentoring - access expert advice for your burning questions about tech

B&NES Council is opening its first rapid Covid-19 test site on Monday 1 March, to prevent the spread of the virus among people who do not have symptoms (asymptomatic). From today (Wednesday 24 February), you can book yourself a quick, free and easy lateral flow test (LFT) at the Apex Hotel in Bath – if you’re a key worker, volunteer or you’re unable to work from home. Around one in three people with COVID-19 don't have symptoms, so rapid testing will help us find cases of the virus and get people to isolate so we can break the chains of transmission, and reduce the spread of the virus in our area. Anyone working out in the community is being encouraged to get tested at least once per week – and preferably twice, 3-5 days apart. Further sites will open at the Masonic Hall in Keynsham (Monday 8 March) and the Centurion Hotel in Midsomer Norton (Wednesday 10 March). And all sites will be open from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Appointments are available in five-minute slots and can be booked up to two weeks in advance via www.bathnes.gov.uk/rapidtest. The test process including registration on arrival takes around 15 minutes and results are sent by text or email, usually within one hour. If you want to know more about these lateral flow tests, who can take the tests, and what happens if you test positive, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-lateral-flow-antigen-testing-for-people-without-symptoms If you have any further questions please contact rapidtest@bathnes.gov.uk

Help a Charity, While Helping Yourself Life can be stressful and our emotions are the cause of stress. If you manage and lead, you also have to deal with the stresses of others. Since emotions are ‘catching’ there’s also the impact of an individual’s emotions on the whole team or organisation. This course will help you manage your own emotions better and those of others. In doing so, you’ll perform better, keep others motivated and make work and life more enjoyable. The risk of ignoring emotional intelligence has never been greater. So if you want to avoid losing great people and prevent lapses in performance, this is the course for you. In keeping with mch’s commitment to promote equality of access to learning and development, this 2-3 hour course is priced at just £60. It's completely self-directed, so you can progress at your own pace and there's no formal assessment required for completion. mch wants this course to help the charitable sector in these tough times. To this end, type in the name of the charity you'd like to support in the 'comment' box of the sign-up form. mch will then donate half your course fee to your chosen charity. For a free preveiw and to sign-up, go to: https://mark-s-school-1363.thinkific.com/courses/emotional-intelligence

We welcome referrals from 18-65 yr olds struggling with their mental health to our 3 projects below. Our City & Guilds Practical Horticulture course resumes on March 2nd and we are hoping our therapeutic gardening sessions on a Thursday will start soon. We have also joined the BANES initiative to plant trees in the former Avon area. For further information click on the link below www.growforlife.org.uk or email info@growforlife.org.uk

Bath Women's Fund virtual event on 3rd March for International Women's Day to celebrate inspiring women leaders, supporting our local communities Join us on Zoom to connect with members of Bath Women's Fund and friends, and to hear from inspiring local leaders, who have previously spoken at one of our potluck dinners, about the work of their organisations to support women, girls and local communities during the Covid-19 crisis: Penny McKissock of Southside Family Project Helen Fisher of Bath City Farm Ursula Lindenberg of VOICES Niki Gould and Jo Fear of The Nelson Trust Roanne Wootten of Julian House Helen Donovan of Bath City FC Foundation Allison Todd of Mercy in Action The International Women's Day 2021 campaign theme is #ChooseToChallenge: choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality, choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Book your place here.

The Government COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan aims to vaccinate tens of millions of people. We are providing this survey to support feedback of rapid insight to Government and local services about how the vaccine programme is working. Please spare a few moments to tell Healthwatch B&NES what you think about the COVID-19 vaccine. The NHS is doing everything it can to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Bath and North East Somerset, but there might be things that can be improved. Healthwatch B&NES would like to know: What you think about the vaccine programme Whether you would be willing to have the vaccine if you have not already had it and if you have already had the vaccine, what you think about information on the vaccination programme.

Lockdown Loan'aTrike is here! Whilst they're not able to run their inclusive cycling sessions up at Odd Down Sports Ground, Wheels for All B&W don't like to see their bikes parked up in the bike store benefiting nobody. So, they're offering a selection of their trikes to help their users keep active until they're able to re-start sessions at Odd Down (don't ask when!). The selection includes child and adult sized trikes. Here's how to go about it: 1. Take a look at the 8 trikes on offer in the 4 photos below and choose your trike using the name that's pinned on the trike. Note: they have x3 Tri speeds, X2Trailmates (Trailmates are 1.8m in length) 2. Email your request to chris.revill@cycling.org.uk using the trike's name as above. 3. If you're not already registered with them you'll need to request a link to do this. 4. On a '1st come basis' they'll arrange for you to collect the trike - most likely a Tuesday or Thursday mid morning at Odd Down Sports Ground (ODSG) 5. Trikes are offered on a 'rolling loan' basis - i.e until needed by them for re-start of sessions or by arrangement for another user 6. Loans are free - BUT they'd really appreciate a donation via their Local Giving fundraising page Localgiving FriendsofWfA ​plus some photo's/video's of users having fun on the trike 7. Collection only - returns via users back to ODSG 8. Full T&C's available on booking request 9. If you would like a different model, they will consider your request. 10. You'll need somewhere secure to keep the trike and if you need advice on suitable locations to ride they can help with that. Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/wheelsforallbathandwest

The new #RighNow campaign is calling on the Government to give more support to charities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign is urging the Government to provide charities with an Emergency Support Fund to enable them to continue providing vital support to communities and causes. It forms part of the Never More Needed campaign, which recognises the unique role that charities and other not-for-profit organisations play in supporting, strengthening and shaping our communities, and the vital need to support these organisations through COVID-19 and beyond. A letter to the Prime Minister sets out how charities are working to tackle challenges and support communities and individuals. This vital work is needed now more than ever but without further government support, millions won’t get the support they need. It urges the Government to set up an Emergency Support Fund “so the burden of this pandemic doesn’t fall on the shoulders of those who are most disadvantaged” warning that without this help, charities “won’t be able to fund life-saving research, feed struggling families, bring hope to people most at risk isolating at home, tackle existing inequalities made worse by this pandemic”. You can sign the letter online here and tweet your support using #RightNow and highlighting what the charities you support are doing right now to support communities and make a positive difference. You can get social media assets for the campaign here. Visit www.nmn.org.uk to find out more.

Bristol Credit Union’s (BCU) MONEY@WORK scheme helps employees improve their financial resilience with access to low-cost loans and savings. ● MONEY@WORK welcomes 10 new employer partners since the scheme became a standalone identity. ● BCU’s new video explains the benefits including improved staff wellbeing and reduced financial anxiety. With financial worries increasing in the workplace, 64% of senior managers say that addressing this issue can boost employee productivity and engagement according to MetLife UK. This has been borne out by the increased uptake of Bristol Credit Union’s (BCU) MONEY@WORK scheme by local employers to provide employees with access to low-cost loans and savings, improving their financial wellbeing. To celebrate this, BCU recently unveiled their new MONEY@WORK video which explains the benefits organisations can receive, including improved productivity, better working relationships and reduced absenteeism. MONEY@WORK offers an affordable alternative to high-interest lenders to around 45,000 employees across Bristol and Bath as well as providing attractive savings options. Credit union payroll deduction schemes are almost universally popular amongst users, with 96% of employees sharing that they would recommend it to another colleague according to The Financial Inclusion Centre’s ‘Getting Workforces Saving’ report. The video further explains how repayments and savings are made easier as money is automatically withdrawn from the employee’s monthly salary. There are currently around 20 organisations on the MONEY@WORK scheme, including Airbus, Better Food, Bristol City Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council. In a brand new move, employees of MONEY@WORK partners can now save up to 25% on loans from £100 to £15,000. The loan sale is helping employees to fund their short-term financial goals, including home renovations. James Berry, CEO of Bristol Credit Union, said: “As the largest credit union in the region, MONEY@WORK prepares employees for life’s unexpected turns by helping them develop better saving habits. This year, we’re looking to increase partners by 50%. We're calling upon local organisations to join the scheme, allowing us to secure the financial resilience for many more thousands of people across South West England.” Sim Ilyas, Business Development Manager at Bristol Credit Union, said: “Our new MONEY@WORK video explains how businesses and employees can benefit from fair and ethical finance. We can help your teams become financially resilient which in turn boosts morale at work. Not only that, when you choose Bristol Credit Union, your actions benefit local neighbourhoods and communities as well.” Better Food’s, HR Manager, Daisy Roach commented: “As a Bristol-based ethical retailer, the new partnership completely aligns with our values, helping our employees to save and borrow in a better way. This alternative finance scheme will make a positive social impact, helping to build financial resilience, not only for our employees, but for the wider local economy too.” BCU aims to triple its membership over the next five years. The credit union supports thousands of people across the South West region with fair finance for loans and savings. It operates across Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire, as well as the Bristol and Bath area. Currently, BCU has 16,000 members and £7 million in deposits. Find out more about MONEY@WORK and watch the video here or below.

This month we've reached the 10th Edition of the Wellbeing Packs, that are now being distributed to over 750 individuals by 27 Compassionate Community volunteers in the next week. It's not too late to request a FREE pack for a client, friend, neighbour or family member. You can view all editions online on the Compassionate Community website. What are the Wellbeing Packs? The Wellbeing Packs initiative began at the start of the pandemic, when 8 local organisations put together 20 pages of activities to support isolated individuals in our community. These ontinue to be produced on a monthly basis and delivered by Compassionate Community volunteers to individuals doors, where they'll either deliver in person or through the letterbox. If the address is outside of Bath & North East Somerset, then the pack will be posted. The packs are professionally printed in A4 (Font Size 14) and are available in A3 if specified in the request form below. Who can request a pack? Anyone can request a pack, whether it be for yourself, a friend, neighbour, family member or client. Please ensure to seek permission from the individual before requesting. We have several options for organisations requesting packs: • We can print the packs for you and drop them off to you to deliver. • We can print the packs for you and our volunteers can deliver them. • You can print your own packs (view online versions here) and we can help you get the resources to add to the pack (seeds, tea bags etc) you can either deliver them yourselves or we can help. Email: miles@3sg.org.uk if you have any queries regarding the packs. You can request a pack by completing this webform or view all editions by visiting - www.compassioncb.org.uk/wellbeingpacks

With support from Shared Lives it is possible to become a self-employed carer supporting adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems or other needs that make it harder for them to live on their own. Gerry Curran (pictured below), a Shared Lives Carer and former Mayor of Bath, has enjoyed being a carer for over twenty years. The Shared Lives team caught up with him, where he told them of his involvement with Shared Lives since around 1999. He supports people to be independent, to have a social life and to be active during the day. Gerry also provides overnight respite at his home and told us he does so for a person known to him through Shared Lives, for ten years. Reflecting on his role as a carer, he said: “I enjoy all the different elements of my role. I think that offering respite gives the individual a family environment to be a part of and a break to do something different. It also offers the individual’s families a break from their caring roles. Day-to-day one of the big issues for people with LD is maintaining a social life and friendships. Things we take for granted like getting out and about and meeting with other people, is challenging when you need someone to support you to do this. “ Shared Lives carers have established relationships with the people they support which makes all the difference. If you or someone you know are thinking about becoming a carer, please email: Suzannah.Cook@virgincare.co.uk

More than 400 people have already taken part in a six-week consultation seeking their views on the city’s transport system over the next decade. Residents and business are being encouraged to have their say on the Bath Transport Delivery Action Plan. The aim of the plan is to identify deliverable transport solutions which can be developed over time to create better connected, healthier and more sustainable communities to live and work in. The plan focuses on three key areas: - delivering sustainable transport - improving connections - improving transport provision for people travelling into city in the short, medium and long-term. Councillor Joanna Wright and Councillor Neil Butters, joint cabinet members for Transport Services, said: “Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the consultation so far. Whether you live in the city or travel into Bath for work or leisure, the consultation is your opportunity to have your say and help shape transport in the city over the next decade. “The plan is important if we are to tackle the climate and ecological emergency and reach our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. It will inform the way road space is reallocated and the way we get around with greater emphasis on more sustainable and active travel modes.” The council is currently working on a raft of transport related strategies and policies from active travel schemes to improving city centre security. To make it simpler and easier for people to take part in these transport related consultations, all the information is now contained on one dedicated webpage https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/transport-delivery-action-plan-bath All responses on the Transport Delivery Action Plan must be received by Monday 1 March.

During the pandemic when many of us are feeling isolated and missing connection with others, Dorothy House are inviting you to discover this new online writing space, a place where you can ‘drop in’ with paper and pen, your thoughts and a cuppa. Whether you've always kept a journal, and writing is a part of your life, or writing for wellbeing is entirely new for you and you're a little hesitant, they're excited to share this with you. Friday mornings at 10.30am on Zoom. After the success of the Writing Through Grief workshops, Tessa and Mike from the Bereavement Team at Dorothy House are looking forward to offering this to all within the community, welcoming everyone arriving with their differing and varied experiences of the last year and lockdown. A writing theme will be offered each week in a relaxed, group setting, with time to chat and reflect. Please be reassured this is about the process of writing, not a ‘polished end product’, freely using your own words to explore as you wish. There will be opportunities, but no obligation, to share and please be reassured no previous writing experience is necessary. * Witness your own thoughts and feelings through a variety of writing activities. * Uncover surprises and memories, give clarity to thoughts and bring reassurance. * Step back from the present, then return to it after writing. * Hear other people’s stories of finding peace through writing. In a time where many of us are feeling a sense of isolation and distance from others, they encourage you to join them and write your way towards springtime….. For further information please contact Dorothy House on 01225 721496 or email bereavementsupportadmin@dorothyhouse-hospice.org.uk

The future of Bathampton Meadows as a green space and wildlife habitat could be secured in a deal with the National Trust under proposals to be considered by Bath & North East Somerset Council. A report, to be considered in a single member decision by Councillor Richard Samuel, cabinet member for Resources, states that transferring ownership of the 24-hectare site to the National Trust would ensure more of the land is opened-up to the public while being protected in perpetuity for future generations. The report says improvements in land management would also bring environmental benefits. The deal would form part of the council’s ambitious Bath River Line project which aims to transform the ten kilometre stretch of the river corridor from Newbridge to the west of Bath to Batheaston to the east. The proposal is aligned with the council’s policy on Community Asset Transfers, the aim of which is to help secure community benefits in line with the council priorities and objectives. The report before the cabinet member says the transfer of the freehold interest in the meadows would secure social and environmental benefits and also support the council in addressing the climate and ecological emergency. To secure these community benefits for the future, it is recommended that the transfer contains restrictive covenants limiting and restricting the use of the land to agricultural/grazing uses in perpetuity and that a further restriction be imposed that no buildings or other structures are to be constructed erected on the land, again in perpetuity. Councillor Richard Samuel said: “I know residents care deeply about the future of Bathampton Meadows. In this report I am being asked to carefully weigh up the long-term social and environmental benefits to residents and to our area of this transfer against the loss of a capital receipt from the land.” Under the proposed Community Asset Transfer the National Trust would pay a peppercorn for the freehold of the land and work to maximise the benefits of the site including: working with local communities to increase access creating recreation and volunteering opportunities developing a range of community programmes and events working with partners to create an accessible active travel route encouraging walking and cycling increasing health and well-being benefits improving habitats and biodiversity The report also identifies as a benefit of the asset transfer the National Trust's statutory power to declare land "inalienable". This means it cannot be voluntarily sold, mortgaged or compulsorily purchased against the charity's wishes without special parliamentary procedure. The National Trust would also be able to work with neighbouring landowners, such as Avon Wildlife Trust, to develop a joint management plan, supporting the delivery of a Nature Recovery Network. Councillor Dine Romero, Leader of the council added: “Bathampton Meadows is of huge significance to our communities and beyond. Securing its future is crucial to our Bath River Line project which we are developing with support from the West of England Combined Authority. We want to improve the towpath, parks, open spaces and public realm next to the river to benefit our communities and nature and support sustainable transport infrastructure. Transferring Bathampton Meadows to the National Trust would help us to meet those objectives while supporting our commitment to tackle the climate and ecological emergency and achieve carbon neutrality in Bath and North East Somerset by 2030.” To read the full report please visit https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=31836&PlanId=399&RPID=31353503

Councillors are to consider introducing a series of changes to on-street parking across Bath and North East Somerset. The proposals, which include basing residents’ parking permit charges on vehicle emissions, increasing the cost of on street parking and implementing on-street charges on Sundays, are designed to improve air quality ensuring a safer environment for pedestrians by reducing the risks to them posed by air pollution, while also meeting the council’s wider transport policy aims including reducing congestion and vehicle intrusion into neighbourhoods. The proposals are contained in a report to be considered in a joint member decision by Councillors Joanna Wright and Neil Butters, cabinet members for Transport Services. If approved, residents and businesses will be consulted later this year. Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “We have a duty to secure pedestrian safety and one of the ways we are doing that is to encourage transformational change to transport across Bath and North East Somerset to improve air quality by encouraging us all to be less reliant on our cars where we can, and instead to choose to walk, cycle or use public transport. “I therefore, welcome this report and will consider it carefully, taking into account the rationale behind the proposals whilst also having full regard to the potential impacts on residents, businesses, tourism, air quality, carbon emissions and transport before reaching a final decision.” The council has recently introduced a series of strategies which taken together are designed to ensure our streets become cleaner, greener and quieter. They include prioritising walking and cycling, introducing liveable neighbourhoods and enhancing public transport. However, the council needs to ensure its on-street parking provision supports its efforts to improve air quality, reduce congestion and vehicle intrusion into neighbourhoods and the proposals are therefore designed to complement this ongoing work. One of the main changes outlined in the report is the proposed introduction of emissions-based parking permits for all residents’ parking zones. The aim is to meet the public health and traffic policy goals of these proposals by improving air quality, discourage unnecessary vehicle ownership and encourage people to switch to low emission vehicles where owning a vehicle is essential. The proposal would see a vehicle placed in a charging band according its recorded emissions with the DVLA. The base price of a residents’ parking permit would remain at £100 a year with a second permit costing £160. Under the proposals four out of ten existing permits would continue to cost this amount. Charges for higher polluting vehicles would increase by 5% for each subsequent emissions band. Diesel vehicles would be subject to an additional 25% surcharge in order to reduce NO2 emissions in the shortest possible time. Where an emissions rating is not available, which includes vehicles registered before 2001, charges will be based on engine capacity on a similar sliding scale. Councillor Neil Butters, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said: “I will consider the proposals contained in the report carefully, taking into account both the impact the changes will have on residents and businesses alongside the need to take decisive action to do our best to improve air quality for the benefit of the health and safety of all our residents.” As well as moving to an emissions-based residents’ parking permit scheme other proposed changes include: • A 10p an hour increase in on-street parking charges each year for the next three years • The removal of the 10p service charge for all on street parking stays when using the digital MiPermit, so the charge is the same as cash • On-street parking tariffs and residents’ permit operating hours to be extended to include Sundays • An increase in trade permit charges • An increase in temporary parking suspension charges • A review of medical permits – to include the introduction of digitised permits to counter misuse and an increase to bring the charge in-line with residents’ permits • A review of hotel and guesthouse permits - to reallocate the parking to car parks and to include the introduction of digitised permits • A review of the remaining small number of historic paper permits – with digital permits issued if renewal is authorised • Residents’ parking visitor permit charges to be increased by 50p a day in year one with subsequent rises of 25p a day in years two and three. • The introduction of half day paper visitor permits to support vulnerable residents unable to access the financial savings offered by digital permits. • An increase in Bath Christmas Market coach parking management fees, rising by 25p on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 50p at weekends. • The removal of the 10% discount for using MiPermit for residents as it disincentives the use of more sustainable forms of transport and encourages cars into the city centre Revenue from the proposals will pay for their implementation and running costs with any surplus used to support the development of sustainable transport schemes across Bath and North East Somerset. Full details of the proposals can be viewed by visiting: https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=31781&PlanId=770&RPID=31357153 Residents can check DVLA records to confirm their emissions, or engine capacity, online at https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

In December, CoProduce Care conducted a survey and published a report on vaccine hesitancy (click here to visit our Rapid Report page) revealing more needs to be done to support people to have their queries about vaccination answered. As you will be aware the outcomes for people of colour and frontline workers who contract COVID19 can been very severe. The vaccine is described as a way to protect them from these harmful effects. Yet there remains misinformation and confusion around the vaccine. Coproduce Care has decided to support people to feel confident about vaccination and allow them to get their queries answered directly in a safe space. They have put together a group of front-line medical professionals as part of a panel to answer questions on the vaccine. They are ultimately trying to increase vaccine understanding amongst at risk groups, allowing them to make a more informed decision and dispel any myths. The live Q&A with the panel of experts took place on Monday 8th February, which you can watch back below.

Achieve in B&NES has partnered with the Women’s Work Lab to provide a free bath based 12-week employability course with guaranteed work placement for Mums. If you're a Mum then you can apply here. They're also looking for organisations willing to take on a Mum for an unpaid work placement in June (see details below to get in touch). Women’s Work Lab have plans for three programmes in Bath in 2021 in partnership with B&NES Council. Training is taking place at the Hub, Mulberry Park (for four weeks) and then they are looking to work with Bath based employers who may be interested in taking a Mum on for a work placement in June. The placements are four weeks and for 15 hours during school hours (usually Tues/Weds/Thurs 9.30-2.30) in an entry level type role. Often employers do rotating placements so Mums can find out different things about an organisation (this can work particularly well). You can view Women's Work Lab's 2020 Impact Report here, which gives you more information. Any interested organisations please contact the Achieve in B&NES team: Achieve@BATHNES.GOV.UK

For most young people, offending is transitory but for a small group of young people this behaviour can be ingrained and pervasive. There is a lack of consensus about the reasons for offending but the link with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is increasingly seen as significant. The Crime Prevention Through Sport Fund aims to support projects that use sport and physical activity to reduce violence, crime and anti-social behaviour. This fund is for projects that focus on using activity as a tool to engage and support young people up to the age of 25. Applications that use sport in its widest sense including traditional, informal sports and activities will be considered and encouraged to apply. Wesport are proud to be working in partnership with Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) to deliver the Crime Prevention through Sport Fund commissioned by Avon & Somerset Constabulary. Together this partnership will endeavour to support projects that have a considered approach to supporting young people who are involved or are at risk of being involved in criminal activity. Avon and Somerset Police lead for serious violence, Superintendent James Raphael said: “We recognise that whilst enforcement will always play a vital role in the work we do, this isn’t the only answer to the issue of serious violence. There are a number of complex issues that might lead a young person to becoming involved in serious violence, and part of our response has always included a programme of education, engagement and diversionary activities targeting those young people most at risk. We’re delighted to be working with Wesport and SASP to launch this fund which will create a wide range of opportunities to engage young people in positive activities.” The constabulary have committed a total of £50,000.00 to be shared across the Avon and Somerset area. This partnership will support, assess and award funding to projects that can demonstrate that their offer to young people and the structure of their interventions are considered around the people they aim to target and consider that young person’s whole environment. The fund will be open for two phases and funding: 1st Phase opens Monday 8th February 2021 and will remain open for 6 weeks until Monday 22nd March 2nd Phase opens on Monday 5th April and closes Monday 17th May 2021 SASP and Wesport will be hosting a funding information session to discuss the aims of the fund and to answer any questions applicants have on Wednesday 24th February 6 – 6:45pm. To register for this event please sign up here: Register for our information event here Please review the documents in the download section to the right of this page to find out more and to submit an application. Contact Ruth Glanvill for any further information on the fund via ruth.glanvill@Wesport.org.uk