Cllr Abdul Hai

• IN response to the letter (Violence in the borough, February 14), I would like to highlight the opportunity that local organisations now have to join our efforts to tackle knife crime and youth violence.

Applications for funding to support projects aimed at preventing youth violence are now open. They must be made by Sunday March 31.

Bids to our Youth Safety Fund must be made by partnerships of at least two organisations, which must have a connection to Camden. These partnerships can include public sector bodies, schools, charities, voluntary and community organisations.

Projects which may run for one or two years, will be considered under two categories: (i) under £5,000 per year (£10,000 total); and (ii) £5,000 to £25,000 per year (£50,000 total).

Young people will be among those joining the panels to assess applications. The fund will help us to implement the recommendations of Camden’s Youth Safety Taskforce which called for a whole community approach to tackle youth violence.

This is the first of two opportunities to apply to the Youth Safety Fund. In some 12 months local groups and organisations will have a further chance to put forward proposals.

I urge local groups with ideas for projects to prevent youth violence to apply. Please visit the website at www.camden.gov.uk/youthsafetytaskforce or email us at youthsafety@camden.gov.uk.

We have a collective duty to work together to ensure all our young people feel safe and secure in going about their daily lives. They should not feel the need to carry knives, in the false belief that this will make them more secure.

We must create an environment in which every young person in Camden, regardless of their background, is able to achieve their true potential. Now is the opportunity for everyone to ask themselves what they can do to address the problem of youth violence.

CLLR ABDUL HAI
Cabinet Member for Young People and Cohesion