Police funding gives a new year boost to youngsters in the Tavistock area
Funding from Devon & Cornwall Police has been donated to Tavistock Youth Café to help it offer more activities and support to young people.
The Youth Café is a charity for youngsters in Tavistock and the surrounding area.
They offer a safe and relaxed environment where young people can hang out, play pool, mix with their peers and get involved with activities. They also provide trips, project planning and opportunities for volunteering, helping with community events, as well as advice and guidance on a one-to-one basis.
The £2,370 funding was seized as part of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and will be used for activities including boxing and swimming. Funds are distributed to good causes and community projects across Devon and Cornwall. Sergeant Tom Ottley, who oversees the Tavistock Neighbourhood Police Team, helped with the charity’s funding application and is delighted they have been awarded the money.
Sergeant Tom Ottley explained: “This is a fantastic local charity who do a lot of important work and we are pleased they were chosen to receive this vital funding. Young people in places such as West Devon can feel isolated and they need support to stay on the right path and look after their wellbeing; this will provide them with a valuable opportunity.”
Police Community Support Officers Debbie Hollinson and Kevin Williams, who work in Tavistock and the surrounding area, recently visited the Youth Café in Pixon Lane and met some of the staff and youngsters who benefit from the charity.
Vicki Lloyd-Walsh from Tavistock Youth Café added: “We are really excited to have been granted POCA funding from Devon & Cornwall Police. This money will go towards a youth project for young people who are on the edge of exclusion from school, on reduced timetables, out of education and have other barriers to learning - making them vulnerable to falling through the gaps in education and at risk of becoming out of sight.
“We run weekly group sessions with 11 to 17 year-olds, offering them physical activities which help build their confidence and allow them to socialise and push them outside of their comfort zones.
“The POCA funding will pay for them to have boxing coaching and gym intro over the next year. Both of these activities have proven to be really popular in the past and we are so happy that we can deliver this again to our groups. Thank you to Devon & Cornwall Police for supporting young people”.
POCA funding totalling around £80,000 has been shared with local charities and other community groups in the two counties in 2024. The cash and assets are seized from convicted criminals.
To apply for funding please speak to one of your local Neighbourhood Police Team. Details of them can be found on the Force website Home | Devon & Cornwall Police
The website will also give you details of which police stations have public enquiry offices so you can speak to an officer face to face. In West Devon Okehampton police station on Barton Rd is normally open to the public Monday to Saturday 10am to 3pm, it is closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The Tavistock police station public front office in Abbey Rise is opening later this month.
To receive local updates about the Tavistock police team as well as useful community events and other information please follow Tavistock Police or West Devon Police on Facebook.
To find out more about the charity and how you can get involved please visit https://tavistockyouthcafe.com
