Tigers Trust has announced a new community project that aims to build stronger connections between professional football clubs and their local police forces.
The charity has received £30,000 from the Premier League, match funded by Humberside Police and the Humber VPP, which sits within the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner, to deliver the 'Breaking the Cycle' mentoring programme. This programme diverts young people away from the criminal justice system through targeted one-to-one mentoring and small group interventions.
Kayleigh Jackson, Head of Community, Engagement and Safeguarding at Tigers Trust, said: "We are incredibly proud to be working alongside the Premier League, Humberside Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Humber VPP to deliver Breaking the Cycle. This funding will allow us to provide tailored mentoring and positive interventions for young people who may be at risk to exploitation, anti-social behaviour or involvement in crime.
"As a trusted community organisation, we understand the power of building positive relationships and creating opportunities that inspire young people to make positive choices. Through one-to-one mentoring and small group activities, we will support participants to develop confidence, resilience and aspirations for the future, helping them to realise their potential and make a lasting positive impact within their communities."
Jonathan Evison, Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside and Chair of the Humber VPP, said: “This programme is an excellent example of a true multi-agency approach. Tigers Trust expertly liaise with the Youth Justice Service, Humberside Police, education providers, local authorities and social care teams for referrals. This ensures that young people most at risk have access to the right support.
“They also work with the NHS Emergency Department Navigators – a programme commissioned by the Humber VPP to support hospital patients aged 11 to 35 who have been injured by violence.
“One of the key objectives of the Humber VPP’s Delivery Plan is to divert and support people away from serious violence and to prevent it from recurring. Breaking the Cycle addresses this by recognising the importance of violence and crime prevention, education and open conversations. As it’s tailored to young people’s needs, I am confident it will help the participants make informed and positive choices.”
Tigers Trust is one of 49 professional football club charities across England and Wales to receive a share of £900,000 in Premier League funding to develop Police Partnerships projects with their local police forces, aimed at strengthening community relationships and reducing the risk of reoffending.
Premier League Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer Clare Sumner CBE, said: "The Premier League has a long-standing commitment to working with local police forces to create positive opportunities for young people in communities across the country. We are delighted to build on this partnership, expanding our reach to provide even more support and positive interventions for those who need it most."
The Premier League investment is match funded by police forces, alongside additional contributions from statutory partners including Violence Reduction Units and Police and Crime Commissioners. Together, this brings the total investment into local communities to more than £2million.
Through this funding, club charities will work with their local police forces to inspire young people to reach their potential, providing them with positive opportunities which divert them away from possible involvement in anti-social behaviour, crime and youth violence.
The projects have been co-designed by football club charities and police forces to deliver meaningful, targeted interventions for young people. These include one-to-one mentoring for young people at risk of criminal exploitation, as well as programmes designed to rebuild trust between police and communities.
Activities will also address key issues such as anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and knife crime. Delivery will take place through Premier League Kicks, the Premier League’s longest-standing community programme that recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary and provides young people with access to free weekly football and multi-sport sessions, mentoring and education workshops.
This latest investment from the Premier League and police forces builds on the 2023-2025 Police Partnerships Pilot, through which the Premier League and police forces jointly invested more than £1million into local communities.
