A group of young people on a barge in Albert Dock. A boy in a green Liverpool kit is looking at the water with arms out stretched
Thousands of young people across Merseyside are set to benefit from a major investment in grassroots projects, as the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES Fund) continues for a third year.
This week, 30 community organisations have been confirmed as successful applicants for a share of £600,000 in funding to deliver diversionary activities designed to keep young people safe, supported and away from crime.
Jointly delivered by Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell and the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), the YES Fund provides grants of £5,000–£25,000 for initiatives that give young people safe, positive opportunities and help steer them away from violence, exploitation and anti-social behaviour.
Launched in 2024, this year’s investment builds on two highly successful years which have seen more than £1 million invested and nearly 25,000 young people supported across Merseyside.
From creative arts to sports, mentoring and mental health support, the funded projects span all five boroughs of Merseyside. Funding is targeted at areas most affected by violence and cuts to youth services, ensuring support reaches young people who need it most.
Projects will run throughout the year, with a particular focus on key periods such as the summer holidays, autumn half term, Halloween and Bonfire Night – times when young people are not in school, and risks can increase.
Examples of successful projects include:
- Karma in the Community (Knowsley) – offering digital skills sessions for young people aged 11–18 who may be at risk of antisocial behaviour.
- Community by Nature (Sefton) – providing forest-based play and wellbeing sessions for younger children to support early intervention.
- Behind Bars Calisthenics Academy (Wirral) – delivering fitness and leadership programmes for young people vulnerable to exploitation and crime.
- Merseyside Domestic Violence Services (Liverpool) – working with boys and young men to challenge harmful attitudes and prevent future violence.
- Park Farm ACYP Centre (St Helens) – intensive one-to-one support for high-risk young people, offering consistent engagement and tailored interventions.
The YES Fund is jointly funded by the PCC and MVRP, with the Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside managing delivery and supporting organisations to maximise their impact.
Building on the success of previous rounds, the scheme continues to prioritise early intervention, prevention and positive opportunities for young people under 25.
The YES Fund is all about investing in our young people and giving them the opportunities they deserve to succeed.
By supporting trusted community organisations across Merseyside, we are helping to create safe spaces, build confidence and open up new pathways for thousands of young people.
This isn’t just about preventing crime – it’s about tackling the root causes, supporting young people at the right time and helping them make positive choices for their future.
We know that when young people have access to positive activities, trusted support and opportunities to build skills and confidence, they are far less likely to be drawn into crime or exploitation.
This funding is being targeted where it is needed most, supporting communities that have faced the greatest challenges and creating safer environments for young people to grow and thrive.
I’m incredibly proud to continue this partnership with the Violence Reduction Partnership and to see the passion, innovation and dedication from groups working on the ground to make a difference every day.
Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell
The grants panel had some extremely difficult decisions to make with many high-quality applications received.
We are very pleased that 30 community projects and initiatives, from across the Liverpool City Region, have been supported with the YES funding to offer some really positive youth engagement from the summer holidays through to the end of March next year.
We look forward to seeing and hearing about the positive impact these projects are able to deliver in their community.
James Proctor, Programmes Director, Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside
The successful organisations in receipt of this year’s Youth Empowerment Scheme are:
Knowsley
- Evolving Mindset CIC – A targeted, place-based early intervention programme focused on reducing youth violence and antisocial behaviour. The project offers structured diversionary activities during high-risk periods while helping young people build resilience, confidence, and positive support networks. Award: £24,765
- Halewood Youth In Community Centre – Recruitment of qualified sessional staff to deliver a varied programme of youth activities, providing safe, supervised environments and consistent engagement opportunities for local young people. Award: £9,155
- Karma in the Community – Delivery of digital skills programmes for at-risk young people, helping them develop practical technical abilities alongside confidence, engagement, and future employability pathways. Award: £25,000
- The Eco Therapy Garden CIC – A youth-led creative wellbeing project, using outdoor and nature-based activities to improve mental health, build self-esteem, and encourage positive peer interaction. Award: £25,000
Liverpool
- Beautiful New Beginnings – A comprehensive safety, prevention, and diversion programme, with enhanced provision during school holidays, offering structured activities to reduce risk of antisocial behaviour and improve wellbeing. Award: £25,000
- Merseyside Domestic Violence Services – An early intervention programme working with boys and young men to challenge harmful attitudes, including misogyny, and promote healthy relationships and respectful behaviours. Award: £18,000
- The Lodge Holistic and Beauty Spa CIC – Inclusive, trauma-informed wellbeing programmes combining creative activities with holistic support, alongside family-focused wraparound services to improve overall wellbeing. Award: £25,000
- Al Ghazali Multicultural Centre – Delivery of mixed martial arts sessions aimed at engaging young people from diverse communities, promoting discipline, physical health, and positive social interaction. Award: £17,112
- Bronte Youth & Community Centre – Outreach work to identify and engage at-risk young people, alongside the provision of a late-night safe space where young people can access support and activities. Award: £14,158
- Norris Green Community Alliance – Continuation of an established early intervention programme for younger children, aiming to prevent antisocial behaviour through structured activities and consistent mentoring support. Award: £24,090
- Pars Community – A broad programme of engagement including sports, arts and digital skills, designed to divert young people from negative behaviours and support personal development. Award: £25,000
- Sports Alive North West – Detached youth work delivered directly within communities, combined with structured diversionary activities designed to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour. Award: £23,540
- Squash Liverpool CIC – An extended out-of-school programme addressing social isolation and low self-esteem through sport and structured enrichment activities, supporting positive peer engagement. Award: £24,975
- Tiber Community Building – A youth-led programme combining football with creative and digital skills development, helping young people build confidence, skills, and positive future pathways. Award: £25,000
- Unistar Youth & Community Ltd – A youth empowerment programme using creative activities and leadership development to support young people at risk of violence, social exclusion, and poor mental health. Award: £22,478
- Walton Youth Project – A targeted intervention programme addressing violence, gang involvement, and antisocial behaviour while supporting young people to build confidence and make positive life choices. Award: £23,233
Sefton
- Afghanistan and Central Asian Association – A youth empowerment and violence prevention programme focused on engaging young people in Bootle, supporting integration and reducing vulnerability. Award: £20,000
- Autism Ventures – A specialist support programme for autistic young people, helping reduce social isolation and vulnerability through tailored activities and structured support. Award: £8,378
- Brunswick Youth and Community Centre – Structured sports provision for young people across age groups, promoting physical health alongside positive engagement and teamwork. Award: £15,414
- Community By Nature – Outdoor “forest play” sessions designed to improve wellbeing, confidence, and connection to nature among younger children. Award: £24,874
- Hotshots Coaching CIC – School holiday provision delivering tennis and boxing sessions, offering positive and active alternatives during key risk periods. Award: £16,469
- Parenting 2000 – Structured diversionary activities and sports programmes for vulnerable young people, focused on reducing risk-taking behaviours and improving resilience. Award: £25,000
St Helens
- Park Farm ACYP Centre – A combination of after-school provision and intensive one-to-one support for high-risk young people, offering consistent engagement and tailored interventions. Award: £25,000
- Reach Rainhill CIC – Weekly and holiday-based programmes providing structured support and safe activities for young people at risk of antisocial behaviour. Award: £25,000
- St Marks Church Haydock – A programme of youth activities delivered across several months, providing safe spaces, social opportunities, and skills development for young people. Award: £4,845
Wirral
- BALANCE 555 CIC – Wellbeing-focused sessions combined with a leadership development programme for girls, supporting confidence and personal growth. Award: £9,815
- Behind Bars Calisthenics Academy CIC – Calisthenics training sessions alongside leadership opportunities, promoting discipline, fitness, and positive engagement. Award: £6,024
- Hatch Merseyside – Delivery of the “Elevate Programme,” supporting neurodivergent young people through wellbeing activities and education around risks such as criminal exploitation. Award: £23,625
- Open Door Charity – Structured activities aimed at providing alternatives to risk-taking behaviours, especially for young people already engaged in wellbeing services. Award: £20,000
- Women’s Enterprising Breakthrough – An empowerment programme for young women, focusing on confidence-building, skills development, and reducing vulnerability among those considered at risk. Award: £24,050