Money available to help youngsters in Bristol transform their neighbourhood

Young Bristolians are being asked for their ideas to help reduce crime or anti-social behaviour or improve their local environment.

The highly successful Safer Bristol Transformers' scheme is looking for more projects this year to fund up to £1000.  The first closing date for applications is 31 March and there will be a further round of applications considered every quarter.

"If young people, through their schools or youth group, come up with schemes to help improve particular problems which are affecting their local areas such as antisocial behaviour, crime or environmental problems like graffiti, we can provide funds to help them carry them out, " said Jenny Dean, Community Safety Officer who coordinates the Transformers' scheme which is funded by Safer Bristol. "We want to encourage young people, working with residents, to identify problems in their local community and come up with some solutions."

The scheme, which has been running for three years, has so far funded 35 projects which have ranged from building a community garden, performing a play on how to avoid distraction burglary to reducing graffiti at a communal laundry by painting a mural.

"Local people have been very supportive of the projects.  Coming up with ideas and carrying schemes through has also given young people opportunities to gain confidence and experience by working with others to look for positive solutions to improve their community" said Jenny.

"The Transformer scheme has backed some really exciting and unusual schemes thought up by young people to really help tackle some local problems in a positive way.  I know that residents have valued the schemes which has also helped young people show they care about improving their local environment", added Cllr Gary Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Targeted Improvement who is on the Safer Bristol Partnership Board.

Anyone wanting to apply for funding from the Transformer Fund can go to www.bristol.gov.uk/transformers or ring 0117 9142222 and ask for Jenny.