Staffordshire SPACE reduce ASB again, Carbon Emissions fall
Written by Hitmix Local News on 16 November 2023
Almost 10,000 young people, aged between 8 and 17, enjoyed over 2,500 activities as part of the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Space programme this summer. There were over 22,000 attendances at events, equating to over 43,000 hours.
The summer programme brings together public, voluntary and private sector organisations to provide fun, positive activities for vulnerable young people. It is funded in the main by Proceeds of Crime funding with a contribution by Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, and aims to help increase young people’s skills, improve their health and wellbeing and create opportunities, while also aiming to reduce levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Since being relaunched, Space has gone from strength to strength, with a 75% reduction in youth ASB during the summer period since 2016. 1,395 reports of youth-related ASB were recorded during the school summer holidays in 2016 compared to 353 in 2023.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said: “The Space programme gives Staffordshire Police and partners an opportunity to engage with young people who may be going through a difficult time, helping to support and develop them through positive activities.
The programme received positive feedback from young people, their parents, guardians or carers and activity providers:
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Carbon emissions at Staffordshire County Council have continued to fall over the last year, according to the authority’s annual report which has been discussed by the councils cabinet this week.
A range of initiatives have already reduced emissions by 50 per cent, since the authority declared a climate change emergency in 2019. More steps are planned to reach net zero by 2050.
Initiatives include a pilot project by the highways department, switching to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biofuel in their gritting fleet and forklifts reducing carbon emissions by 60 tonnes in three months, compared to conventional diesel, whilst also decreasing pollution levels by up to 84%.
Last year, £5.75 million was awarded to 427 properties in Staffordshire, installing a total of 540 energy efficiency measures through the Staffordshire Warmer Homes scheme.
The report and action plan, which can be viewed here, were discussed at a meeting of the council’s Cabinet today
