The gloves were on as PCC joins Kirklees Rural NPT at Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club
14 May 2019
Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) had a busy day in Kirklees last week (08/05) visiting the Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) as well as Safer Communities Fund grant recipient, Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club.
Mr Burns-Williamson met with the Rural NPT at Holmfirth Police Station as part of his regular visits to policing teams across West Yorkshire.
Whilst there he joined a team briefing as well as speaking to the duty Inspector, Inspector Briggs, officers and staff.
Mark Burns-Williamson, PCC, said: "I am a supporter of Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the real difference they make in both tackling and preventing crime as well as community safety issues generally.
"These visits are important for me and it's always a pleasure to be able to pass on my thanks to officers and staff in person and to hear and see directly the current issues that are being tackled. To find out more about your local NPT visit https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt."
Chief Inspector Ben Ryder, of Kirklees District Police, said: "It was great to welcome the Police and Crime Commissioner to meet our officers in the Rural team and to see projects in our district benefitting from the Safer Communities Fund.
"The youth intervention work Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club carries out is invaluable in engaging with our communities and inspiring young people in our area.
"The Safer Communities Fund allows money to be taken off criminals and given to worthwhile projects such as this one."
Mr Burns-Williamson went on to visit Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club (RACB) which the Rural NPT link in with to help provide youth diversionary activities on Friday nights.
RABC were also awarded a grant of £5000 from the most recent round of the PCC's Safer Communities Fund to help with their youth diversion project which provides boxing and recreational activities such as pool and table tennis to young people in the area.
Mark Reynolds founder and operator of RABC Boxing club, said: "It was nice to show Mark round our facilities and the different ways we can engage with our community.
"90% of our work is non-contact boxing so it's not just about making boxing champions but more importantly making community champions who live a better life.
"The recent award will help us engage further with our community and as a voluntary group struggling to get funds, help to keep us going."
Mark Burns-Williamson, PCC, added "Diversionary activities have a really important role to play in in reducing and preventing crime. I was pleased to be able to support Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club who are clearly making a positive contribution to their community and it's clear to see that Mark Reynolds is very passionate about making a real difference for many young people in the area."
The Safer Communities Fund is currently open for applications until 24th May (12:00 noon). Grants of up to £6,000 are available from a total funding pot of £200,000.
For the first time ever, the fund has a split funding pot. Half of the money will be available to projects looking to either tackle drugs and alcohol misuse or work focusing on young people, with the other half open to applications looking to address any of the priorities in the Police and Crime Plan.
