Lloyd's cheque to cut reoffending

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd is handing Oldham projects £72,000

A RESTORATIVE justice scheme in Oldham is to benefit from grant funding from Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd.

It is among a number of town initiatives that will share £72,000 from the £900,000 "community chest" that funds more than 100 projects across Greater Manchester.

The funding is on top of £262,000 that the Police and Crime Commissioner is making available to community safety in Oldham.

The community chest funding comes from three different funds - the Commissioner's Neighbourhood Fund, Active Citizen's Fund and Youth Aspiration Fund - designed to reduce demand on policing by helping community projects.

Redeeming our Communities (ROC), which will benefit from the funding scheme, runs a restorative justice service that brings together the victim and perpetrator of less serious crime to help restore the victim's confidence and repair any harm done to them by the offender.

Mr Lloyd said: "When used correctly, restorative justice is a powerful tool that can make offenders face up to what they've done and give victims the closure they need.

"Confronting perpetrators with a human face to the crime they committed can be a powerful deterrent against reoffending.

"ROC's work in Oldham will help reduce offending and build more confidence that victims have in the criminal justice system."

Frank Green, operations director for ROC, said: "Restorative justice has been proven to reduce reoffending rates and have a significant positive impact of communities.

"There is a clear need in the community for this project to develop."

Oldham's local safeguarding board is to receive £15,000 to help schools engage with young people around "extremism' and 'radicalisation", using non-confrontational, age-appropriate tools.

Hollinwood Hub is receiving £17,000. It works with young people at risk of offending to raise their aspirations, enhance their CVs and reduce the risk of involvement in serious organised crime.

Oldham HomeWatch Association wants £3,908 to set up 10 new schemes in Oldham over the next 12 months which will help people build good relations with the police, each other and protect neighbourhoods from crime.

These are just some of the 17 projects that will benefit Oldhamers as part of the scheme.

Mr Lloyd added: "All these projects contribute to making our neighbourhoods stronger and safer.

"We've used this grants process to back local communities, and giving people the means to come to us with their ideas and aspirations, their plans for making things better.

"The creativity and passion people have for their local areas shines brighter than ever.

"Even in the face of funding uncertainties and high demand on their services, people are still determined to make a difference and I am determined to help them."