A groundbreaking project helping young people involved in vehicle crime to develop practical motoring skills received a special visit from Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach.
Leicester-based AXLR8 received £8,142 from the PCC’s Prevention Fund for its Hit the Road project supporting young people caught up in vehicle crime and antisocial behaviour to develop employment skills and understand the impact of illegal motoring.
The project delivers workshops to young people aged between 14 and 18 who are not in employment, education or training and are currently involved in the youth justice system for vehicle-related offences.
The workshops focus on the dangers and implications of illegal riding/driving as well as providing practical sessions on how to service a bike or car with the aim of building confidence and self-esteem. Further sessions will be held to help participants develop their job application skills through writing CVs and searching for employment.
The PCC met staff and volunteers behind the scheme for a progress update on the impact of the sessions.
Willy Bach said: “This is a fantastic project encouraging young people to use their passion and interest in motoring in positive and practical ways.
“AXLR8 has a proven track record of success and has been working with young people at risk of crime since 2005. Motorbike crime and illegal motoring consistently blight Leicestershire’s communities and are frequently raised by local people and the hope is this intervention will develop responsible attitudes to vehicle use while also reducing crime.
“Lack of skills and unemployment are driving forces behind all sorts of crime. The young people involved in this project are gaining more awareness of impact of their behaviour on their communities but are also seizing the opportunity to develop their talents and increase their employability.”
The project, which commenced at the beginning of 2019 from its premises in Aylestone, is being delivered over a 12-week period with two sessions each week. Participants are already known to AXLR8 or to the organisations it works with.
Jonny Akroyd, project manager, said: “The PCC funding will enable AXLR8 to continue educating young people around responsible road use and the consequences of dangerous or illegal riding/driving. Also, we will be able to fund provisional licences and basic rider training for young people to help them become legal road users.”
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Posted on Friday 29th March 2019