Published: 26th March 2019
Huddersfield Giants Community Trust will deliver a series of anti-knife crimes assemblies throughout Kirklees thanks to a successful funding bid from the Safer Communities Fund.
The fund, created by West Yorkshire Crime Commissioner Mr Burns-Williamson, is financed through the Proceeds of Crime Act and gives grants to a multitude of groups and organisations to keep West Yorkshire communities safe.
Jonathan Timms, Huddersfield Giants Community Trust’s Head of Sport & Community Development commented. “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant towards such an important cause. The funds will allow us to develop and deliver an impactful school assembly to over 10,000 children throughout Kirklees in both secondary and primary schools.”
He continued: “In recent years the issue has grown across the country as well as the local area and we are looking forward to having the opportunity of tacking the issue through the power of the Huddersfield Giants brand.”
Asked about why the Trust had pursued the funding he concluded. “No one, let alone a young person should be carrying a knife and I have heard of a few instances now of young people carrying knives as young as 7 years old. This has to stop! And if we can deter young people from carrying knives and other deadly weapons, even just one, we can save lives and improve our local community”.
Mark Burns-Williamson said: “I launched the SCF in 2014 to help local groups make a real difference in their communities. “The fund has now delivered across 15 grant rounds since then, totalling £2,673,114.17 with 617 projects benefiting.”
