Proceeds of crime help fund young people's charity

A charity that provides mentoring to young people who have previously been involved in anti-social behaviour has benefitted from a grant funded by money reclaimed from criminals.

Didcot-based charity Train Youth was successful twice in 2024 in acquiring a grant from the Thames Valley community fund, which is organised by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The fund relocates proceeds raised through the sale of items seized from criminals to community groups and charities across the region.

Ben Drabble, the charity's chief executive, said he "can't think of a better use" for the proceeds than "reinvesting them in community in organisations like Train and helping young people".

Georgina Dawson, who is a mentor with the charity, said it was "really helpful" to show the "wider community and our young people" where the funding has come from.

"We can actually break down any sort of stigma there is between the police and young people," she said.

"It's turning something that came from crime into something really positive and that has further impact."

More than £200,000 of grants have been awarded to 38 organisations as part of the latest round of funding announced earlier this year.

Matthew Barber, Thames Valley PCC, said communities would benefit from the most recent round of funding through "projects which align with a number of key policing priorities".

Among others selected to receive between £250 and £10,000 are The Slough Job Creation Hub, Windsor Christian Action Homeless Project and Youth Challenge Oxfordshire.

Train, which received two grants in 2024, also runs youth clubs across south Oxfordshire and has about 600 young people engaging with its services each year.

Mr Drabble said there were "fewer and fewer spaces available" to young people, meaning that having a place like Train where they "can't get into trouble" and can "interact with positive role models" was "vitally important".

Teenager Ellie, who uses Train, said it had made her "more confident and happier".

"It made me feel like I could talk to somebody and be myself, and I quite liked that," she said.

Fellow teen Louie added that it was "just good vibes", as there were "people here you can talk to about literally anything".

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