Stockport Community Alliance

A community led approach to violence reduction
in Stockport

Children in bright yellow and red sports vests with a coach standing next to them, posing for a group photo on a sports court.
Young people (with their faces erased) pose for a photo outside the Blackpool Tower on a trip as part of the Alliance

What is the Stockport Community Alliance?

In 2023 Stockport was allocated funding for the community-led programme by the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (GM VRU). The community-led programme in Stockport started with a period of co-design with residents of Adswood and Bridgehall to produce a set of priorities. Local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations were asked to apply to receive part of the fund to deliver provisions for young people aged 10- 25 and form an alliance that work collaboratively to fulfill the priorities set. 

The community-led approach to violence reduction, means the violence reduction unit works closely with communities to understand the strengths, challenges, and needs of the community and determine how local investments will be made with communities at the heart of decision making. 

Who are the Alliance partners?

The alliance partners of the Stockport Alliance are:

Learn more about the Community Approach to Violence Reduction here

What’s on for young people in Adswood & Bridgehall

Poster titled 'What's On' promoting events organized by Violence Reduction Unit, with colorful abstract shapes and logos, listing activities like football, music, art, youth work, workshops, respect programs, and healthy relationships, including dates, contacts, and referral information.

    • Make a Difference run monthly workshops for girls in Adswood and Bridgehall focused around peer connections and tackling the prevalence of bullying and intolerance and fostering community cohesion and safe places. 

    • Transforming Lives Together have engaged a CYP Using Harm Worker who will run the Respect Young People’s Programme, the TLC: Encouraging Healthy Relationships Programme, as well as offering counselling. The first of their programmes is RESPECT, aimed at improving relationships between young people and their parents/carers. 

    • The second of their programmes is Encouraging Healthy Relationships, aimed at improving relationships between young people and their partners or siblings. 

    • Stockport County Community Trust delivers three evening youth engagement football sessions a week. One of these sessions is a girls-only group designed to give girls a voice and choice, allowing players to input into the session’s structure, and ensuring their needs and preferences are catered for. In the winter months, they will deliver a twelve-week social action project, bringing together the community to design a project which will have a benefit for young people living in Adswood and Bridge Hall. 

    • Stockport County also run boxing sessions focusing on sports and inclusion

    To book contact communitytrust@stockportcounty.com

    • PIE delivers transition projects supporting cohorts of young peoplesupporting them as they transition from primary to secondary school or from secondary school to further education/ employment/ training:

    1. Step Up programme – supporting Year 6 students through the last two months of primary school, the summer holidays and the first 4 months of secondary school.  

    2. Peer mentors – Supporting step up students for an additional six months, providing leadership opportunities and additional support through their first year of secondary school.  

    3. Moving On – Ongoing sessions throughout the school year supporting young people ages 11-18 who are struggling to engage with education. Sessions aim to help build up confidence, resilience and skills, and if appropriate, support to their next destination (education, workplace, training as appropriate).  

    To book contact beth@pie.org

Download the poster here

Feedback

Young person

“There’s not been anything like this before so it makes me feel good when I’m here and I can meet people and play.”

Young person

“I am nervous about going to secondary school but I know people now and that’s nice.” 

Parent

“You see people out here playing that you don’t usually see and that’s great, it keeps them out of trouble and they can build connections between eachother.  ” 

Stockport VRU Mini Grants

This grant programme supports Voluntary, Community, Faith-Based, Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations working in and around Adswood & Bridgehall, Stockport, to deliver activities for young people that ultimately contribute to a reduction in anti-social behaviour locally.

Find out more and apply for the VRU Mini Grant here

Get in touch

Sally McFerran-Davenport

Stockport Violence Reduction Alliance Facilitator
sally.mcferran-davenport@sector3sk.org