Thousands of young people across Merseyside are set to benefit from a significant cash injection designed to create opportunities and keep them safe. The Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) has received an additional £200,000 investment from the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP).
Expanding Reach and Impact
This new funding will be used to bolster the 27 existing YES projects and finance 18 brand-new initiatives. The goal is to enable grassroots organisations to deliver more sports, digital, creative, mentoring, and wellbeing programmes. All activities are focused on preventing crime and helping young people to thrive in their communities.
The YES scheme was originally launched in 2024 by Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Emily Spurrell, and the MVRP. It aims to tackle the root causes of violence by creating safe spaces and positive opportunities locally.
New Projects Making a Difference
The latest funding will allow the scheme to reach even more young people with targeted programmes. These include boxing and sports initiatives to build resilience in those at risk of crime, creative and trauma-informed projects for personal development, and mentoring to boost confidence and life skills.
There is also a focus on targeted outreach for vulnerable groups, such as girls and neurodiverse young people. Among the newly-funded projects is TARGET Football CIC in Toxteth, which secured a £5,000 grant for its 'Goals for Girls' programme. This initiative creates pathways for girls and young women aged 11–24 to engage in football as players, volunteers, and coaches.
In Norris Green, Kinship Carers will use a £7,500 grant to deliver tailored activities and mentoring for young people in kinship families, helping them build stability. Other projects include Autism Adventures Training CIC in Speke-Garston, offering a youth club and safety strategies for neurodiverse youth, and Youth Federation's work in Birkenhead and Tranmere to re-engage excluded pupils with education.
Investing in Safer Futures
Merseyside PCC Emily Spurrell stated: "Investing in our young people is one of the most powerful ways we can prevent crime and keep our communities safe. The YES Fund gives young people hope, opportunities, and support to make positive choices. This extra £200,000 means more projects, more safe spaces, and more chances for young people to thrive."
Director of the MVRP, Superintendent Georgie Garvey, added: "Every project funded through YES is helping to steer young people away from harm and towards brighter futures. We’re thrilled to announce this extra investment, designed to bolster our existing projects and deliver an extra 18 programmes across Merseyside."
In its first year, YES funding provided diversionary activities for nearly 12,000 young people, helping them gain new skills and confidence. Each funded organisation receives a grant of between £5,000 and £25,000, with a focus on areas of Merseyside experiencing the highest levels of violence.
