A major £600 thousand investment in new grants, youth programmes and community initiatives designed to make neighbourhoods safer, strengthen community resilience and bring people together across the city has been announced,
Funded externally, support will focus on projects aimed at tackling discrimination, reducing crime, improving community safety and creating new opportunities for young people and adults to learn and thrive.
The investment has been approved by Salford’s Community Safety Partnership, which includes the council, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Greater Manchester and the Probation service.
The programme has also been shaped through community consultation from a wide range of community residents and organisations, from schools to housing providers.
A significant part of the programme will support the council’s community safety, cohesion, crime, equality and diversity, poverty and inequality and safeguarding priorities.
Key highlights of the investment programme include:
- £125,000 for Community Co-Development: Partnering with Belong to embed long-term cohesion into local neighbourhood structures, including direct community grants.
- £80,000 Community Cohesion Small Grants: Funding local neighbourhood groups to run grassroots events, building trust and cross-community friendships. Targeted Youth & Educational Interventions: Delivering specialised projects such as Educational theatre expected to reach more than 1,000 young people to help them understand radicalisation and grooming.
- Skills and Empowerment: A year-long social skills programme for children aged eight to 16, and a Young People’s Exploitation Conference. Other projects will help young people understand misinformation, disinformation and harmful uses of artificial intelligence; improve internet safety for children and parents, particularly families with SEND needs.
Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety at Salford City Council says discrimination and misinformation can cause division.
The council want to tackle these challenges faced by the community positively.
She said: “Salford is proud of its diversity and the strength of its communities. This investment will help us build a safer, more united city where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.
“Importantly, this is an investment for the whole of Salford. It will support people of different ages and backgrounds, while putting a particularly strong emphasis on our children and young people.
“From youth programmes, to new community grants and skills training, these projects will make a real difference to people’s lives that can leave a lasting legacy for the city and support our ambitions as a Child Friendly Salford.”
