Luton charity Azalea awarded nearly £3k boost by Beds Police chief

Mrs Holloway announced this week she will provide funding to four programmes in Bedfordshire as part of her ongoing commitment to make the county’s streets safer.

Azalea, which helps women to escape the on street sex trade, has been granted £2,912.

The money will be used to deliver information about sexual exploitation, with practical advice on how to spot the signs and how best to report incidents in order to safeguard vulnerable women.

Azalea will also be providing online resources for the community.

Azalea co-founder and CEO, Ruth Robb, said: “PCC Holloway has awarded Azalea with vital funds to engage with our local community and together, create local safer community solutions for all who are effected by commercial sexual exploitation.

“Our homes are placed in neighbourhoods and we need to work together to make sure care and support is given to all. We can all suffer the consequences of commercial sexual exploitation in our neighbourhoods and we look forward to working with local people to make the area safe. Thank you to the PCC for making this work possible.”

In September, the PCC launched a funding process asking for applications for grants of up to £15,000 each for the area of High Town in Luton and £10,000 for Midland Road, Bedford.

Besides £2,912 awarded to Azalea, the Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust (The Bobby Scheme) has been given £6,108 to help High Town residents make their homes secure.

Elsewhere in Midland Road, Bedford - £10,000 has been donated to charity Faces, and another £9,000 to Smart CJS - which will provide a 'safer street community centre' on Prebend Street.

PCC Kathryn Holloway said: “I’m delighted that we had a range of applicants from charities and community associations who suggested common sense and practical solutions to help tackle crime in two areas which have long been blighted by the on street sex trade in the case of High Town and drug taking, anti-social behaviour, street drinking and burglary in the case of Midland Road.

“Working together with both local councils, my team is confident that these projects will make real differences to the lives of residents,” she added.

Residents and community associations wanting to engage with the Safer Streets projects can contact the teams via email at [email protected] (Bedford) or [email protected] (Luton).