Southern Co-op donates £135,000 to tackle crime

As part of its efforts to tackle crime, Southern Co-op is sharing £135,000 of funding among 18 projects which work to cut reoffending rates. 

An initial investment of £100,000 in 2020 has led to more than 1,300 people being supported including offenders and/or those at risk of offending. 

According to four of the projects working with offenders, their estimated reoffending rates were between 0% and 4.2% – a significant reduction from the national average of 24%. 

Gemma Lacey, director sustainability & communications at Southern Co-op, said: “We have tried our best to support as many community projects as possible in this latest round of funding and are pleased to see such a passionate group of organisations all doing their best to help people in need. 

“Projects include healthcare and accommodation for the homeless, skills building for offenders, help for young people at risk or already involved in crime, and much more. 

“The majority of people don’t choose a life of crime so we hope these programmes will give them the chance they need to break out of the vicious circle which so often has a tragic ending.” 

The Safer Neighbourhood Fund has been co-ordinated with the help of Neighbourly, a giving platform where businesses can donate volunteer time, money, and surplus products to their communities. 

Other projects include mobile healthcare services for homeless people, police outreach schemes to school pupils at risk of offending, youth allotments, support for women ex-prisoners, community pastors and a financial inclusion programme for survivors of modern slavery.