On Friday 1st July, Member of Parliament for South Leicestershire, Alberto Costa, met with the Chief Executive of the Leicester YMCA, Mr Paul Brown, and, Ms Grace Srong, the Strategic Partnership Manager for the Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Community Rehabilitation Company (DLNR CRC), to discuss the work of the County’s Young Adult’s Project (YAP).
The Young Adult’s Project was set up in 2013 by the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Reducing Reoffending Board and funded through the office of former Leicestershire & Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner, Sir Clive Loader.(1) The project was set up to work with young adults aged 16-24 as this group has been identified as having some of the highest rates of reoffending.
Alberto, a member of the House of Commons Justice Committee, said “I was delighted to meet with Paul and Grace at my Constituency Office today for an informative and engaging discussion. The Young Adult’s Project is a brilliant initiative set up to investigate the causes and reasons as to why young adults are over represented in our criminal justice system. I was very keen to hear about the work the YAP has been doing and will ensure to be kept up to date with how the project progresses and how I may be able to assist them moving forward”.
Paul Brown, Chief Executive of Leicester YMCA, said “Grace Strong (Strategic Partnership Manager DLNR CRC) and I met with Alberto to discuss the work of The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Young Adults Project (YAP) which has looked at the key issues of offending / re offending amongst 16 -24 year olds and how maturity plays a significant role in offending behaviour. Additionally we have shared with Alberto the news that Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has been shortlisted for a national pilot through a partnership with HM Courts Service, The Barrow Cadbury Trust and The Centre for Justice Innovation to set up specialist courts to test an adapted approach with young adults.”
Mr Costa concluded, “The high rates of reoffending among young adults is certainly a cause for concern, however following our meeting, I am encouraged that organisations such as the YMCA and the Community Rehabilitation Company are working effectively with the Police and other agencies to address this situation and ensure that young people are getting the help and support they need”.
Alberto is pictured above with Grace and Paul.