Below is the latest update from the OPCC
Since our last newsletter, we’ve all faced some major changes and challenges.
The Government announced a second, month-long, English lockdown in November.
Although not as severe as the first, it has meant a number of curbs on everyday life at what is traditionally one of the busiest times of year.
While the OPCC still continues to operate as normal, most of our staff are working from home in line with Government guidelines.
This means you can still expect the same services from ourselves and our commissioned partners but they may be delivered in a slightly different way.
In fact, the OPCC has been busier than ever with lots news around funding and projects.
Our first Youth Commission continues at apace, going up a gear this month with a youth takeover at both the OPCC and Cleveland Police.
We’ve just received further funding from the Ministry of Justice for sexual violence and domestic abuse services.
And our innovative heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) programme has just celebrated its first birthday with the award of a new grant to explore its effectiveness.
Until next time, stay safe – and look after each other!
Extra help for vital services
The OPCC has received an extra £169,675.81 of funding from the Ministry of Justice.
Funding will support domestic abuse and sexual violence services across Cleveland, which have been impacted by the pandemic. The support spans the period to 31 March 2021.
Services may have suffered extra cost or additional demand due to Corona Virus.
The latest funding brings the MOJ total for services to £572,675. It follows another successful bid by the OPCC.
In July, the Government doubled Cleveland’s requested funding from £192,000 to £403,000, in recognition of the area’s significant demand for domestic and sexual violence support agencies.
Acting Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Oldroyd said: “The services we commission have absolutely stepped up to the challenge presented by Covid-19, ensuring vulnerable victims affected by domestic or sexual violence can continue to access the support they need.”
To read more, go to our website
Youth Takeover
Young people in Cleveland are being asked for their views on cyber and hate crime in a new survey.
The survey was launched by Youth Commissioner Sadie Roberts.
She took over the role of Police and Crime Commissioner for the day to mark UN World Children’s Day.
The 16-year-old from Thorpe Thewles, Stockton, chose the date to launch the survey.
It is aimed at Cleveland residents, aged 14 to 25, and will form part of the Big Conversation.
The Big Conversation is the main focus of work by Cleveland’s first OPCC-funded Youth Commission on Police and Crime, of which Sadie is a member.
It’s a chance for young people to express their views on a number of topics – and tell community safety leaders how they would like to see them tackled.
Findings will be presented at a conference next year, attended by Acting PCC Lisa Oldroyd and other community leaders.
To take part in the survey, go to the Youth Engagement web page.
Happy Birthday to HAT
The award of a prestigious research grant marked the first anniversary of the PCC-funded Heroin Assisted Treatment Progamme (HAT)
The prestigious ARC grant award was made to Teesside University to carry out in-depth independent evaluation of the scheme and its results.
Academics from the University’s new research Centre for Applied Psychological Science (CAPS), led by Professor Tammi Walker, will use the funding. It will continue and expand research for a further 12 months from March 2021.
Research will explore the experiences of individuals, who have completed, discontinued or refused to engage with the HAT pilot and other key stakeholders. It will build on a smaller evaluation carried out in 2019.
The grant illustrates how important this area of work is seen at national level.
For more on this story, go to our website.