AN ORGANISATION promoting community safety and supporting thousands of youngsters across Cheshire has received a major cash injection from the county’s High Sheriff.
Cheshire Crimebeat officials were presented with more than £30,000 from Mornflake managing director John Lea after his High Sheriff’s Charity Ball proved a sell-out in Nantwich last summer.
The cash boost will help Crimebeat support further projects aimed at reducing crime, improving community safety and promoting good citizenship among the young people of Cheshire.
Headed by the High Sheriff of Cheshire - the Queen’s specially appointed judicial representative – the organisation has worked with more than 200,000 youngsters since it was founded in 1998.
Over the years it has given cash help to nearly 500 projects – all involving young people or youth groups and directed at improving the quality of life in local communities.
In Chester, Crimebeat has supported everything from cycling and student security awareness schemes in the city centre to football in Handbridge and garden clean-ups and dance projects in Blacon.
Mr Lea, a father-of-two, said: “Crimebeat makes a huge contribution to social well-being and the public safety of every person living in Cheshire. Its volunteers work behind the scenes to help shape rounded and good-intentioned young people who make a contribution to our community and are a credit to their families.
“It promotes positive changes and for those young people who have lost their way, it steers them away from crime so they can look forward to a brighter future not only on the right side of the law but with a code of conduct that will serve them well through life.
“I was therefore delighted to be able to hand over a sizeable donation which I know will be well spent by Crimebeat in the coming months.”
Mr Lea, who lives near Tarporley, presented a cheque for £32,000 to Crimebeat chairman Michael Trevor-Barnston and co-ordinator Frank Harding who visited Mornflake’s base in Gresty Road, Crewe, where oats are milled for its range of breakfast products.
Mr Harding said: “A combination of youthful energy, professional expertise and thousands of hours of unpaid work, helps us to ensure every penny of private donations and sponsorship goes to our front-line customers.
“This substantial donation will allow us to support more grant applications from youth-related projects and activities in 2012 and will prove enormously helpful.”
Every year Crimebeat ploughs up to £15,000 into youth-related projects. In 2011 it supported 30 and hopes to exceed that this year. It works out of offices at Cheshire Constabulary headquarters in Winsford and welcomes donations from the business community and fundraising groups.
Cheshire groups or organisations seeking funding up to £500 are welcome to call Frank Harding for more information on 07976 203129.
