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07 March 2024
An online session is being held for prospective candidates and agents in the forthcoming Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election.
The event will take place on Tuesday, 12 March at 12.30pm via Teams and will be an opportunity to ask questions about the nomination process, the timetable, the deposit required and other steps required to stand as a candidate.
Anyone who would like to attend the online event or has any questions should email [email protected]
Those who are unable to attend but would like to find out more can contact the team on the email address above and they will be happy to answer any queries.
The Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election takes place on Thursday, 2 May 2024.
Find more information on the election, along with further details on electoral registration, postal and proxy vote applications, by visiting our Electoral Services pages.
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07 March 2024
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has welcomed the extension of the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) initiative announced in yesterday’s Budget announcement.
HSF funding is set to be extended for a further six months from the end of March this year following the announcement by the Chancellor yesterday. The initiative has so far seen more than £11m allocated to WNC from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in just over two years with over 251,800 awards of support to households who have struggled financially.
WNC will now await further information from the Government on the future funding earmarked for West Northamptonshire to support residents through the continued cost of living challenges.
The Council will also continue to work with community and voluntary partners on developing long-term, methods of support available to residents, continuing commitment to the delivery of the Anti-Poverty Strategy.
This includes:
- Continuing to grow the number of welcoming spaces available in Northampton, Daventry and South Northants areas, providing a place for families and residents to pop in for a hot drink, friendly conversation and other activities. These spaces are available throughout the year, all offering something different.
- Working closely with local community and food larders as they provide access to affordable food for anyone facing hardship, as well as providing a sustainable approach to waste. The larders have a range of heavily discounted food and grocery items that offer an alternative to supermarket shopping via a membership programme. For more information please visit Hope Centre Larders and TowFood larders. This includes Food banks to support those in need of emergency food.
“Over the last few years, the HSF has provided much-needed and vital support for many residents in West Northants during the cost-of-living challenges and it is positive to see this extended further. The support has been critical for many families and households, and one that has been made possible through the DWP funding and partnership working with our community and voluntary sector organisations.Councillor Matt Golby, Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Public Health“Together with our partners, we have started to lay foundations for sustainable support for our families facing financial hardship with a great example of this being further investment into money and debt advice services to increase support available for those facing severe financial hardship.
“There is full commitment from everyone to continue to build on this work together. As more information is provided by the Government and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) regarding the next tranche of the HSF, the Council will share its plans of distribution.
For a full list of support available for residents see Cost of living support which includes information on local food larders, money and debt advice as well as help with household bills.
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06 March 2024
Northamptonshire Serious Violence Prevention Partnership (NSVPP) has launched a strategy to tackle crime and serious violence in Northamptonshire, with a specific focus on violence among under 25s.
On March 6, partners gathered alongside community organisations to hear about the NSVPP’s plans and the work already being delivered by partners across the county.
- Jordan Letts from the Northampton Saints Foundation delivered a presentation around the club’s work supporting young people to build a positive future.
- Gifford Sutherland from Upskill U spoke about the Exodus Programme, a therapeutic approach co-designed by young people which aims to support those affected by or at risk of violence and exploitation.
- Alongside these guest speakers, an incredibly powerful video was shared of Cheri Curran sharing her personal experiences of knife crime, following the loss of her son Louis-Ryan Menezes.
The NSVPP announced its plans to implement a public health approach to violence prevention. This looks a gaining an understanding of the root causes of violence to develop evidence-based interventions which focus on both reduction and prevention. This early intervention creates the opportunity to treat the root causes of violence and to not just tackle it but prevent it.
Partners set out how they will work together, with children and, young people, and wider communities to prevent and reduce serious violence. They aim to:
- Stabilise and reduce violence in the short-term
- Understand the underlying causes of violence in the county
- Co-ordinate Northamptonshire’s communities and public organisations to address those causes in the longer term
In addition to outlining their commitments and aims, the NSVPP emphasised the importance of building upon the fantastic work already being delivered across the county.
Projects such as the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) have been instrumental in addressing violent behaviour among suspected or known gang members and individuals at risk of gang involvement or criminal exploitation. The work of CIRV is now incorporated into the Youth Violence Intervention Unit which provides support and interventions to participants which aim to reduce violent incidents and enhance community safety.
More than 30 OPFCC funded Bleed Kits have been installed across the county in partnership with Off the Streets NN. These kits play a crucial role in providing immediate medical assistance in the event of a violent incident, potentially saving lives.
"There is no such thing as an acceptable level of serious violence, it has a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory Services on West Northamptonshire CouncilBy taking this partnership approach we can focus on preventing serious violence from occurring in the first place, building upon the fantastic work already taking place in Northamptonshire."
"North Northamptonshire Council's vision is for a place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life. For residents to thrive they must feel safe in their communities.Cllr Mark Rowley, Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up at North Northamptonshire CouncilAlthough Northamptonshire is a safe place to live, local organisations are committed to preventing serious violence and protecting our communities from its impact. This will mean better co-ordination between partners, helping us to work together more effectively.
Our aim is to tackle the root causes of serious violence and stop it from escalating, minimising the harm caused. This will complement the other preventive work already being carried out by the council and its partners, as well as local efforts to reduce reoffending.
This new strategy will help drive this positive work forward and ensure organisations across Northamptonshire are focused on working together for the benefit of residents."
"Everyone at the launch must now challenge themselves to make this strategy a living plan and turn it into action so that we will intervene early to put young people on the right path, prevent crime and have a lasting impact on communities across the county.Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold
"Tackling serious violence is a Matter of Priority for Northamptonshire Police and we’re pleased to be working closely with partners to help reduce offences and the impact these crimes can have on victims and our communities.Detective Superintendent Andy Glenn, Northamptonshire PoliceDuring the last 18 months we’ve delivered a number of weeks of action taking robust action against those involved in serious violence offences, while also taking part in national initiatives aimed at engaging and educating people about the dangers of knife crime and county lines.
This is an exciting new approach for Northamptonshire as we know no single organisation can deal with this issue on their own. We are more likely to have a long term, significant and positive impact if we work together, along with other partners including schools and community groups.
This work is about agencies in Northamptonshire coming together to get upstream and prevent young people from becoming embroiled in a life of crime.
We know there are young people who are groomed into committing crime who are out of their depth and want to stop but don’t know how to. We want to help provide them with a way to turn their lives around.
Through this partnership we will tackle the causes of crime. Young people can be offered a variety of opportunities to change their behaviour and move away from crime. This involves the excellent work of the Youth Offending Service’s Turnaround Programme and the Exodus Project which helps to build relationships with vulnerable young people.
This is an important commitment from all partners who have agreed to work together, and I am confident this new approach will have a positive impact and see a reduction in violent crime across the county."
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07 March 2024
An online session is being held for prospective candidates and agents in the forthcoming Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election.
The event will take place on Tuesday, 12 March at 12.30pm via Teams and will be an opportunity to ask questions about the nomination process, the timetable, the deposit required and other steps required to stand as a candidate.
Anyone who would like to attend the online event or has any questions should email [email protected]
Those who are unable to attend but would like to find out more can contact the team on the email address above and they will be happy to answer any queries.
The Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election takes place on Thursday, 2 May 2024.
Find more information on the election, along with further details on electoral registration, postal and proxy vote applications, by visiting our Electoral Services pages.
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06 March 2024
West Northamptonshire Council has paid tribute to former Lord-Lieutenant David Laing who has sadly passed away.
Mr Laing had recently been celebrated in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List, being awarded a CBE by HRH Princess Anne for his services to charity and philanthropy.
Having served as Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire from 2014 until 2020, he had a significant impact on the County – being vice chair on the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, as well as working to support a wide array of charities and voluntary organisations.
His support was pivotal in the establishment of the Northamptonshire Community Foundation, which has given out over £20m in grants to causes across the county. He also served as the County’s High Sheriff and was Pro Chancellor at the University of Northampton.
The Council has paid tribute to Mr Laing and will be lowering the WNC flag at all of its offices from tomorrow (Thursday 7 March) for a week as a mark of respect and remembrance.
David was loved and admired by so many people throughout our beautiful county, his boundless kindness and positivity have been such an inspiration to so many people, including myself.Councillor Jonathan Nunn, Leader of West Northamptonshire CouncilDavid was hugely supportive of the establishment of our Council, being a vocal supporter of improving services for the people that rely on them by improving the connectivity between them. His passion for making our county a better place for everyone lives on.
From cricket, rugby and motorsports to skateboarding and BMX, Mr Laing had a passion for sports and promoting youth and community involvement through his involvement in sports clubs, youth organisations and school trusts.
He was central to establishing Adrenaline Alley, a local charity and the UK’s largest indoor BMX and skatepark, while the David Laing Foundation works with a range of charities that help support young people, music, art, sports and health.
David was a trailblazer and a wonderful human being, with a spirit of adventure and remarkable positivity in all he was involved within Northamptonshire and across the globe.André González De Savage, Councillor for East Hunsbury and friend of Mr LaingHe was always local and made time to talk, share thoughts and ideas and motivate others to do their best at all times and in all places. Nothing was too much, and his words meant so much. His artistic and literary skills were also to be admired together with his genuine warmth and welcoming personality.
No words can sum up David but the true experience of knowing him as a friend and passionate county ambassador was an honour that I will always treasure. I send my love to Mary and the family.
Mr Laing will be remembered at a private family service. A public memorial to celebrate his life and bring the organisations he supported together will be held later in the year.
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