Community Goals!

Saturday saw us join with our colleagues at Essex Police for the Essex Community Goals event at Essex Police HQ.

Community Goals brings together more than 170 12- and 13-year-olds to play football, have fun, work as a team all – on Saturday at least! – in the bright Essex sunshine. The young people, from across Essex, interact with police officers which increases and builds trust between the young people and officers, breaking down barriers and preconceptions.

The day is designed to build resilience in the young people and strengthen factors which are known to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, for example, having access to trusted adults and safe spaces.

We really enjoyed spending the day chatting to young people about their love of sport, their ambitions and hopes for the future; and it was nice to catch up with those within the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership.

Pictured is Jim from Essex VVU with Izzy Read, the Essex VVU Youth Resource Networker for the Chelmsford area. Essex VVU Youth Resource Network reaches into communities and plays an active role in providing aspiration and opportunity and contributing to making communities even safer – connecting young people to opportunities which are available but they may not be aware of or are reticent about approaching.