Safety partners fund new youth club to divert children and teens from crime in Spennymoor

A new youth club is helping to turn around young lives in Spennymoor as part of a united effort to address anti-social behaviour.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen and housing provider Livin, joined forces to provide funding worth just over £5,250 for a new Town Hall Youth Club in Spennymoor.

Spennymoor has previously been identified as an anti-social behaviour (ASB) ‘hotspot’ and benefits from extra high-visibility enforcement patrols funded by government cash secured by the PCC.

However, as part of a prevention approach to tackle the root causes of crime, the County Durham and Darlington PCC teamed up with the force, Livin Housing Association, Spennymoor Youth and Community Association, Durham County Council, Spennymoor Town Council and Spennymoor Town Football Club, to deliver a practical solution to the problems in addition to enforcement.

The youth club, initially funded until June 2026, is being held every Monday evening and provides a series of activities including music, DJing, art and culture with frequent workshops held on a variety of topics.  

Spennymoor Town Council has provided the Town Hall as a venue for three hours every week including clean up and setting up time, with space for 20 members aged between 10 and 13 to attend.

Young people who would benefit from the facility are identified by the police and youth workers at the club.

Daisy Arts (a community arts organisation) has already been commissioned to work with the group on a monthly basis.

Between January and November 2025, ASB cost more than £88k in response time across the Spennymoor area.

Reports primarily involved Jubilee Park (mostly around the bowling green) with damage to flowers reported from bike riding and football, Spennymoor High Street where large groups of youths were congregating and sometimes causing damage to local businesses, and local stores, with youths reportedly congregating outside of shop doorways intimidating customers due to volume and sometimes causing a nuisance.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “This is a much-needed resource for young people in and around Spennymoor who are at risk of falling into the criminal justice system and is warmly welcomed by residents and businesses alike.

“Often residents and young people themselves raise concerns about the lack of activities in areas where ASB is a problem, and we are listening and acting on what they tell us.  

“Importantly, in this case, we asked residents directly in Spennymoor what issues are affecting them most and ASB from youths and adults was high on the list, alongside road safety issues such as speeding, dangerous driving and parking, drug dealing and taking, littering and rubbish and off-road bikes and e-scooters.

“Previous interventions in the area have had a positive impact on behaviour and have helped to promote feelings of safety and reassurance. They have also gone down very well with the young people themselves, with many looking forward to their weekly sessions.  

“It’s vital we keep up the good work and sustain the positive relationships built by providing further opportunities for young people to try out new skills and develop trusting relationships with adult role models.

“Working together to tackle anti-social behaviour and other issues epitomises the ethos of my Police, Crime and Justice Plan.”

Spennymoor town centre has also been identified by the Government as a location for funding to encourage regeneration and renewal for the town and surrounding area. Joy Allen sits on the new Pride in Place Board in Spennymoor, which will see up to £20 million of investment and support over the next 10 years (from 2026) to make long term improvements.  Active and sustainable youth programmes have been identified within the Board’s Action Plan and if this project proves successful then it will become part of the town’s future investment programme.

During a recent partnership walkabout in the Town Centre with councillors and other agencies, several concerns were raised in relation to young people causing ASB.

There were fears this behaviour is already deterring residents from shopping in the town centre.

In response, Durham Constabulary posted a community survey to ask residents what issues would benefit most from joint working.

Andy Coulthard, Livin Housing Association Community Generation Manager added: “Through our Safer Communities grant programme we can work collaboratively with partners to address key community concerns such as ASB, making a positive impact by helping to provide preventative measures which will help older and younger residents feel safer.”

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