Norfolk PCC visits RISE Project in North Lynn with Lovell

Sarah Taylor, Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, visited the Pizza Project with Lovell in North Lynn on Friday 1 August. The Pizza Project is part of Norfolk Constabulary’s RISE Project that was established in the area last year.

The RISE Project is targeted work in North Lynn, focussed on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour with initiatives to prevent these issues recurring, whilst also working with partners to build the infrastructure and support networks needed to improve the area as a whole.

As part of working in partnership to improve the area, King’s Lynn Team Ministry and youth workers from Norfolk County Council launched the Pizza Project at the Methodist Church on the North Lynn Estate.

The youth workers are part of Norfolk County Council’s Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS) out-reach project, of which the Norfolk Community Safety Partnership has contributed considerable amounts of Home Office funding over the years through the Serious Violence Duty and Safer Streets funding.

The Pizza Project opens on Friday nights for everyone between the ages of nine and 18, and the collaboration has previously been recognised by Norfolk Police as an effective piece of work in reducing anti-social behaviour in the area.

Lovell, a local housing partner and construction company, have been working in the King’s Lynn area over the last ten years, and chose to support the RISE Project by providing t-shirts for the staff to wear when working with young people in the area.

Last week, PCC Sarah Taylor and Matthew Goakes, Area Director for Lovell, visited the team in North Lynn to show appreciation for all of the work taking place through the RISE Project.

Norfolk’s PCC, Sarah Taylor, said: “I was so impressed by how engaged and enthusiastic the RISE Project team were in North Lynn. It was so clear to see the impact the team all have on the young people who attend the Pizza Project, and from the offset it was obvious that a real and true difference is made through this type of community work.

Last month, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner launched its ‘Safer Norfolk’ campaign that aims to shine a light on the work taking place in Norfolk that contributes to keeping Norfolk a safe place to live, work and visit.

Sarah said: “The RISE Project team in North Lynn provide local young people a safe environment to socialise, bond and learn skills that they can take forward into adulthood. By making a really wide range of activities available, from karaoke to football and pool to a beauty bar, the young people I spoke with are really enthusiastic about the Pizza Project. This makes this a perfect example of the type of partnership working that is being highlighted in the ‘Safer Norfolk’ campaign.”

Matthew Goakes, Area Director at Lovell said: “We are thrilled to have been able to support the RISE initiative in North Lynn. We have been working closely with Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk in a major housing partnership for 10 years this year, and supporting the local community is an important commitment from us at Lovell and as part of this partnership. It’s fantastic to be able to support a campaign which focuses on hearing directly from the people who live and work in North Lynn, to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the area by putting long term strategies into place.”