Two Lambeth-based initiatives for young people are the recipients of Force for Good grants from Police Mutual.
The Redeeming Our Communities (ROC) Mentors project received £500 — the initiative’s aim is to provide one-to-one support for young people and divert them away from becoming involved in street gangs.
Sergeant Graham Norman nominated ROC Mentors for the prize.
He said: “ROC approached me a few years ago informing me that they were working in London.
“They explained that they help to build relationships between local churches and the police, working together with them to tackle crime and disorder.”
ROC used their expertise to help recruit mentors and a mentoring coordinator, and to identify suitable mentees.
“We currently do not have any funding and so the volunteers use their own money when out with the mentees, whether to fund a visit to the cinema or to a café for example,” Sergeant Norman said.
“The £500 will go some way to help us in developing an expenses fund for the volunteers.”
The Metropolitan Police Force, where ROC Mentors is based, had nine winning community projects, which together received charitable contributions from Police Mutual totaling £3,000.
Lambeth Summer Camps, a camp for 350 young people aged 9-16 led by Police School Officers, was another successful applicant and was awarded £400.
Retired Officer John Street nominated and runs the programme which is based in Stockwell and Norwood.
He said: “We hope that our initiative will divert young people from committing nuisance, anti-social behaviour and crime or perhaps being the victims.
“Lambeth Police Officers and the youngsters who live here can meet in a non-confrontational atmosphere, this in turn improves understanding both at and beyond the projects.”
Police Mutual, which has been helping serving and retired Police Officers, staff, Specials and their families with their finances for more than 140 years, has now completed the first tranche of applications for its 2016 Force for Good national community sponsorship programme.
The initiative will award £100,000 in total and the second nomination window will run throughout September 2016.
Stephen Mann, chief executive of Police Mutual, said: “Now in its second year, it’s great to see even more members of the Police Family stepping forward to reward causes they feel improve lives within their communities.”
Police Mutual is inviting the Police Family to nominate good causes in their area that enhance the lives and wellbeing of the local community.
Applications for Force for Good funding can be made for any amount up to £1,000.
See www.policemutual.co.uk/forceforgood for additional details and www.policemutual.co.uk/campaigns/terms-force-for-good for full terms and conditions.
To learn more about ROC Mentors visit https://roc.uk.com/roc-mentors-lambeth/.
Further information about Lambeth Summer Camps can be found at http://www.lambethsummercamps.org.
