VULNERABLE young people in North-East Wales are to benefit from a new initiative funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin through his Innovate to Grow programme. The project, called Growing Futures, aims to help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour and to promote positive and active participation in society by those involved.
Growing Futures is being organised by local community interest company Agri-cation at their base in Bangor-on-Dee and will offer tailored, farm-based learning for young people disengaged from mainstream education, including those not in education, employment or training, school refusers, and young people known to Youth Justice Services.
On September 10, Mr Dunbobbin visited the Agri-cation site in Bangor-on-Dee to meet those involved in Growing Futures, including founder Cheryl Reeves, to hear more about their aims for the project.
The course begins with a learning session for professionals, followed by free taster sessions for young people to reduce barriers. Ongoing placements focus on wellbeing, confidence, and life skills through animal care, food growing, and rural activities.
The sessions are available to children and young people in Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire, giving priority to children located in the in the top 10% and 20% most deprived areas and wards in the area, including Queensway, Cartrefle, Wynnstay, Hermitage, Smithfield, Gwersyllt, Mold West, Shotton, Plasmadoc and Pen y Cae.
Outcomes will be tracked through self-assessments, observations, and professional feedback. It is hoped that by the end of the course, participants will show improvements in mood, engagement and confidence and there will be a shared and increased understanding of how farm-based education can support vulnerable learners. It is also hope that it will provide meaningful opportunities for young people otherwise at risk of being left behind.
For the wider community, it is hoped that the programme will reduce the burden on schools and support services by offering an alternative pathway to engagement, and build bridges between young people and the rural community, promoting respect, responsibility, and understanding. The plan is for it also to lay the foundation for long-term change through partnership with schools, youth services, and community groups.
PCC Andy Dunbobbin commented: “My Innovate to Grow fund is all about helping support new and ambitious projects that aim to reduce crime in our communities. Growing Futures is a great example of this goal in action.
“They are working with some of the most vulnerable young people in our society to change their behaviour and attitude for the better and they are doing this through connecting them with the countryside and by working with animals in a way which may have been previously out of reach for them.
“This programme is about broadening horizons, increasing skills and, hopefully, reducing crime and promoting engagement. I look forward to seeing its future grow and to seeing more projects come forward for Innovate to Grow funding.”
Cheryl Reeves from Agri-cation said: “By focusing on connection, consistency, and care, Growing Futures will help young people take the first step toward more positive, stable futures, while contributing to stronger, more inclusive communities across Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire.”
Innovate to Grow exists to target and invests in projects dealing with the root causes of crime across North Wales, especially ones that offer new and innovative ideas of preventing and tackling wrongdoing.
Mr Dunbobbin has allocated £100,000 to the Innovate to Grow scheme to support projects for up to one year throughout the 2025-2026 financial year, with the main focus being on innovation. Examples of initiatives that could be eligible for support under the scheme include those covering youth services, early intervention, and adverse childhood experiences; drug, alcohol and substance misuse services; and organisations working to combat domestic abuse, sexual violence, and violence against women and girls. The initiative must complement the priorities within the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, as well as his Community Oriented Police Service (COPS) approach to serve all communities across North Wales.
To read more about Innovate to Grow and other funding initiatives from the PCC, please visit the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner North Wales website.
To learn more about Growing Futures, visit Agri-cation’s website
