A Margate schools partnership has received £3,000 from the Kent Criminal Justice Board, as part of a national programme to use ill gotten gains, confiscated from crooks, to fund worthwhile community projects.
The public were able to vote for the projects that they would most like to see get the money. The award, from the Community Cashback scheme, is going to the Quartet Community Allotment Garden in Brooke Avenue, Garlinge. The idea has come from the Quartet in the Community, a partnership of Margate schools and children's centres, working to improve the lives of children and the community. Hartsdown Technology College is the secondary school in the partnership and whose students will benefit from taking part.
The money is being used to tackle the problem of youths loitering in the streets outside the homes of older people, causing friction and anti-social behaviour. A new group will be set up to bring older members of the allotment and the local community together with young people to work together at the allotmen, pass on their knowledge and build relationships. The idea has been backed by the local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and the Garlinge PACT group, who believe this scheme will help to bridge the gap between the generations in the area.
Experts will be leading the groups, which will be meeting on Saturday afternoons in January, February and March. One of the projects will be planting trees in Garlinge. For those that get heavily involved with the scheme, there will be a trip at the end as a reward.
Money from Kent County Council through their Extended Schools Funding will also be supporting this project.
Nicola Wood, Coordinator of Quartet in the Community, said: "We are extremely excited to be awarded this funding and are really looking forward to getting ideas into action during the coming months. We welcome support from anyone from within the Garlinge community to come forward to help us bring this idea into a reality".
Garlinge resident Anne Kemmitt said: "The Quartet receiving this funding is excellent news. This initiative will have a positive impact on the Garlinge community, young and old alike."
Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Coordinator, Tiffany Hall, said: "I am really pleased that the Kent Criminal Justice Board has given Quartet this funding opportunity. This is a visible way of demonstrating that we are on the side of the community and it is extremely satisfying that money from offenders will help such a worthy community project".
To find out more about the Quarter Community Allotment Garden, contact Nicola Wood on 07845 979024 or email Nicola@hartsdown.kent.sch.uk. For more information about Community Cashback, visit www.cashback.cjsonline.gov.uk
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