A WEST Cumbrian youth group has secured funding to challenge views on anti-social behaviour within the community.

Egremont Youth Partnership was awarded £5,000 by the Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner as part of a project targeted at supporting young people within the town of Egremont to challenge views on anti-social behaviour through workshops - including on drugs and alcohol and on how Covid-19 affects them.

As part of the project, free Covid-19 resource packs were distributed to 200 young people at West Lakes Academy and within the town.

Packs included a reusable face mask, hand sanitizer, sweets and information on staying Covid-safe, including the 'rule of six', and advice and guidance, incuding contact details for the centre.

The project was initially created following work being delivered with the young people of Egremont during the Covid-19 lock-down, which suggested that young people were confused and unaware of the changes regarding the lock-down and how these measures affected them.

James Bowden, youth centre manager, at Egremont youth partnership said: "It was a brilliant little event and the young people responded well to the Covid packs and were very appreciative, with many young people commenting how they were brilliant and happy to receive them."

Over 200 reusable masks were provided by a local facebook group called 'Get your Crafty Pants on' and James said: "The centre was over the moon with the support from the group."

He added: "Assistant youth workers Kelly Bell and Ella Carver have worked very hard over the past few weeks to prepare and deliver this project, this has included making up the Covid-19 support packs and engaging with the young people during detached youth work sessions up to six times a week.

"These two staff members have ensured that this project is delivered to the best of the centres ability and that the young people are kept at the centre of the project's focus."

Future plans include delivering sessions on the risks of drugs and alcohol abuse with workshop boxes, which will show information on a number of drugs including side effects and their classification in line with the law.

It is hoped that this work will alert young people to the risks and also give them an opportunity to engage with the centre, which is now open three evenings a week with three sessions a day.

Social distancing measures are in place at the club to ensure that young people are kept safe at all times. Sessions are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.