National fund to invest up to £1m in improving life chances for Great Yarmouth's young people

The town's Nelson ward is one of a handful of areas selected by the Youth Endowment Fund for support through their Neighbourhood Fund.

Collective-impact charity Right to Succeed will reach out to people living and working in the Nelson ward to understand what is important to them and the wider community when it comes to young people.

The project will see the community co-designing new solutions to address the unique challenges and opportunities they are facing, helping children and young people in the area to thrive.

The work is being carried out in partnership with Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Norfolk County Council, and Norfolk Police.

Right to Succeed Chief Executive Graeme Duncan said: "This work is about getting into the roots of the issues. We want to work with local people and those that support them to really understand the unique local circumstances and how they can work together to make lasting improvements for children and young people."

The initial funding will enable Nelson ward residents to pool their local knowledge and co-design a plan for future improvements.

Work will start this spring, leading to an action plan covering up to the next five years being finalised this autumn. The area will then receive funding of up to £1m from the Youth Endowment Fund to put the ideas into action.

Mr Duncan said: "It's essential to work with the children and young people affected and the people and organisations who live and work in an area. They know their community best and can make sure that interventions have maximum impact by reaching the people who need them most."

Great Yarmouth Borough Council leader Carl Smith and Labour group leader Trevor Wainwright said: "This is a really positive opportunity. We are committed to supporting people in the borough and improving the life chances of the residents in Nelson ward.

"We believe that this project, by focusing on the unique issues in the ward, will help prevent our young people's lives being knocked off course."

Norfolk Police's north Norfolk and Great Yarmouth district commander, Superintendent Nathan Clark said: "It is vital we do not shy away from tackling the issues faced by young people in Great Yarmouth, crime has consequences whether as a victim or an offender, within the home or the wider community. I am delighted to see this innovative project come to Nelson Ward."

Cllr John Fisher, cabinet member for children's services at Norfolk County Council, said: "The young people of Great Yarmouth have so much potential, but we know that experiencing crime, either as a witness, victim or perpetrator can have long term effects on their physical and emotional wellbeing.

"This investment allows us to build on the work already happening across Norfolk, bringing extra investment so that we can work alongside the community and collectively find solutions that work for the children and young people in the Nelson ward area.

"By working directly with residents and responding to what young people are telling us, we can give them the very best opportunity to flourish."

The four other areas across England and Wales being funded by the Neighbourhood Fund cover a wide range of geographies and urban, rural, and coastal settings. They are: Barkerend, in Bradford; Grangetown and Butetown near Cardiff, Cheethall Hill in Manchester, and Lozells in Birmingham.