Youngsters living in Newton Aycliffe will have more opportunity to take part in organised sports and leisure activities at a popular youth club thanks to a funding boost from Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.
The County Durham and Darlington PCC has provided £3,710 to community-based charity The Cornforth Partnership to support the work of the Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre Youth Club to keep young people safe and prevent their involvement in crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB).
The move forms part of the PCC’s ongoing investment into Problem-Solving Orientated Policing (POP) plans across the force area which are designed to bring partners together with the force to proactively address issues that concern residents, undermine their confidence and increase their fear of crime.
Newton Aycliffe has long-standing issues with ASB, with incidents mainly occurring between 5pm and 8pm and peaking on Wednesdays. The town is already one of 15 ‘hotspot’ areas benefiting from extra high-visibility patrols to tackle ASB and serious violence funded by government cash secured by the PCC.
As part of her mission to build safer, stronger and more resilient communities, the Commissioner is working closely with the force, The Cornforth Partnership, housing provider Livin Housing Association and other partners in Newton Aycliffe to transform young people’s lives while improving the way police and partner agencies work together to solve problems.
The Youth Club already offers weekly activities on Wednesdays for young people aged ten to 17 in partnership with Thrive Durham to divert young people from gathering in the Town Centre. The programme aims to support their social development, physical wellbeing and community involvement through structured sessions combining sport and social activities.
The PCC’s funding will cover the costs of hiring Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre for eight consecutive weeks and to partially fund the use of a youth worker to maintain age-appropriate sports and social sessions at the facility. Livin has also provided funding worth £2k towards the programme while a further £5,592 has been secured from The Ballinger Charitable Trust and additional funders.
It has become apparent that there is a small group of young people in Newton Aycliffe who are currently on the periphery of criminal behaviour and recognised as key influencers among their peers. While the youth club is committed to supporting all young people, it is felt that integrating this group into existing sessions could negatively affect the progress and safety of those already attending.
To ensure these young people are not excluded from positive opportunities, a portion of the funding is to be allocated to providing a dedicated youth worker to carry out targeted outreach work. This approach allows the group to engage with youth provision in a way that is safe, supportive and tailored to their needs, while reducing the risk of further isolation or escalation into harmful behaviours.
Without the funding lifeline, it would be more difficult to secure the venue’s availability consistently, leaving young people with nowhere structured to go when the youth club is not available and increasing the risk of them congregating in public spaces and engaging in ASB.
The PCC has been at the forefront of national efforts to improve the response to ASB, jointly funding an array of diversionary projects to educate young people on the consequences of ASB through interactive performances in schools.
Tackling ASB is also a key commitment in her Police, Crime and Justice Plan, with the PCC setting out a series of promises to bring redress to communities and prevent young people from being drawn into crime and ASB. This includes a promise to fund positive, affordable and accessible diversionary activities and working with social care and other partners to target and support those at risk of falling out of education.
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “The links between crime and an absence of safe spaces for young people to socialise and develop are well-documented. It’s vital we come together as partners to overcome any challenges to build the infrastructure we need to sustain our young people, guide their development and encourage them to thrive.
“I am proud of the huge strides we’ve made in tackling ASB countywide, achievements which have earned us national awards and recognition. ASB offending is complex and masks a whole array of other problems that must be addressed at source, but by sharing our expertise and our resources, and funding practical solutions like this youth club, we can and will make a difference.”
The Youth Club has already registered 150 young people and between 40 and 50 children and young people attend every week, demonstrating there is high demand for the provision.
The PCC remains committed to identifying young people most at risk of becoming involved in crime and ensuring effective, joined‑up support. In 2024–25, she awarded £37,000 to The Cornforth Partnership to expand youth services in Cornforth, Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill, Chilton and Newton Aycliffe.
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