Music to combat the attraction of guns for young people is being supported by a new charity.
The Safer London Foundation is a charity launched this month aiming to bring together Londoners, the Metropolitan Police and businesses, to help make London’s neighbourhoods safer.
The Safer London Foundation will provide Londoners with information, funding and support. The charity aims to work at street level helping develop innovative crime reduction projects and provide the interface between communities and local neighbourhood police.
Funding for the Foundation has been provided by Atos Origin, KPMG LLP (UK), the Metropolitan Police Authority, Metropolitan Police and Rentokil Initial.
Chief Executive Officer, of the new charity, Tony Shepherd said: "This is the first charity of its kind and will bring together local people, police and businesses. Working together with community groups and the Safer Neighbourhood police teams we can empower local people to provide innovative crime reduction projects and create safer neighbourhoods."
The first two projects to benefit from the Safer London Foundation support are Youth Entertainment Sound System project and Don’t Trigger Campaign.
The Youth Entertainment Sound System project diverts young people away from crime by giving them confidence, self empowerment and opportunities through entertainment and performing arts. The project will benefit from a volunteer mentor and volunteer support as well as £5,500 funding for a musical showcase at the Tottenham festival.
Using urban music and unsigned artists, the Don’t Trigger Campaign works with the Mothers Against Guns group to challenge gun culture among young people. Safer London Foundation is providing an interest free loan of £20,000 to help production of the project’s new anti-gun crime CD due to be released on July 25.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair said: "As far as the MPS is concerned, one of the main priorities is developing best practice in identifying local community priorities and equipping officers with the skills to help communities make choices about those priorities."
