Projects designed to improve community cohesion are set to get the go-ahead as the response to last summer’s riot in Middlesbrough continues.
Middlesbrough Council received £655,000 from the government’s Community Recovery Fund in the aftermath of August’s violent disorder.
The Council has been working closely with partners including Thirteen, Cleveland Police, the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner, Teesside University, Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency and the Probation Service.
Community groups including the Amal Project and Streets Ahead for Information as well as representatives from the areas of the town centre badly affected have also been involved.
A plan for how the money will be spent on events, engagement and youth provision will be presented to the Council’s Executive next week.
Middlesbrough was one of 20 places to receive the funding which is designed to reduce the risk of further disorder in the future, rebuild social trust and promote cohesion.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “The brainless violence and intimidation we saw last summer has left scars that will take time to heal.
“The shocking scenes didn’t represent what our town is about and I’m determined that people from all backgrounds feel welcome and safe in Middlesbrough.
“This funding can help organisations bring people together and recognise the positive contributions made by all communities. At the same time, we must also do more to understand all the factors that led to the riot.
“It’s important that groups can come forward with ideas of how to invest this funding. No single person or organisation has all the answers on how we should respond to what happened.”
Sahida Ditta, founder of the Amal Project, said: “The resilient people of Teesside shone bright following the riots. The ‘Boro Clean-Up’ demonstrated the real community strength and unity we all know and have come to appreciate in this area.
“Throughout the period of violent disorder and tensions, many groups including mosques and churches came together to share their knowledge and expertise of supporting some of the most vulnerable or under-represented people within our communities.
“Voluntary groups became the essential link to bridge the gap between communities and public sector organisations.
“The work of the voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Middlesbrough is invaluable. Therefore, I think the best way forward is for all of us to come together to ensure we are able to learn from what has happened, so we can all continue to grow and thrive.”
Guidance on how the funding should be spent out was set out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
It said the funding could be used to “empower communities to address the deeper roots of the unrest”.
A new Community Forum would bring together representatives of all groups in the town, while local organisations would be able to bid for a share of funding to help them deliver events and activities.
One aim will be to support people who have lost confidence and feel vulnerable following the disorder.
Providers of youth services would get a £205,000 boost, with the allocation allowing for more one-to-one focused work with the most disengaged young people.
An allocation has been set aside for the delivery of training designed to combat hate rhetoric. Funding is also proposed for education materials.
The Council’s Executive will meet on January 8 to consider the report. Details of the grant process will be announced in due course.