Tag: Fearless

Celebrating Scotland’s Communities

Crimestoppers and Fearless event celebrates work of community groups

On Friday (6th October 2023), independent charity Crimestoppers and their youth service Fearless celebrated the vital work that community groups across Scotland undertake at a special event in Maryhill, Glasgow.

Supported by Network Rail Scotland, the charity awarded six youth-focused groups and six adult-focused groups £500 to spend on creating a special day during the summer that provided an opportunity to learn about the charity’s 100% anonymous reporting service.

Whilst Crimestoppers is not normally a grant giver, this project was an exceptional effort to show support for the very local groups who play an invaluable role in making communities stronger.

Guests at the celebration included The Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown MSP and representatives from community partners, safety projects and other charities.

Over 120 invited guests heard from the award winners about the fantastic work they undertake in communities and the difference the funding provided by Crimestoppers and Network Rail Scotland made to their summer:

Man On! are a mental health charity operating in Inverclyde. With support from Fearless (the youth service of Crimestoppers), they organised a football wellbeing cup for 200 young people during the summer holidays to encourage them to come together to learn more about mental health issues, community safety and Fearless.  

The players had a great time – keeping fit, working together and learning how to stay safe and healthy.

Milan Senior Welfare in Edinburgh supports older South Asian communities and unpaid carers. They used the funding to host a series of community events. Over 90 people attended, many experiencing language barriers, so they heard about how Crimestoppers’ language line can offer 147 different languages to those choosing to report crime anonymously.

Lyndsay McDade, National Youth Projects Coordinator at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Both I and the Crimestoppers Scotland National Manager have worked in the charity sector for the duration of our professional careers. We have seen firsthand the difference youth workers, community workers and local charities make to so many lives – every single day.

“Shining a light on the tremendous work carried out by local charities and supporting them to empower their group members with key information about crime and awareness of our charity, has been truly inspiring. We’re so glad that, together with Network Rail Scotland, we could bring both knowledge and joy this summer.

“Today’s celebration was an important reminder that everyone has a right to feel safe wherever they live and that through Crimestoppers and our youth service Fearless, we help communities to achieve that.”

Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown said: “Crimestoppers is unique in its role, giving people the opportunity to make their communities safer by anonymously reporting information about crime.

“I was pleased to be able to join the event today and learn more about the positive impact of Crimestoppers and their dedicated youth service Fearless.

“I want to say a personal thank you to community groups for the difference they continue to make in local communities and the contribution they make.”

Innis Keith, Health, Safety & Environment Director, Network Rail Scotland, said: “Scotland’s Railway has partnered with Crimestoppers and Fearless for many years now and the partnership has, and continues to raise awareness around the dangers of railway crime and the devastating impact it has on our communities.

“It’s so important that people know how to anonymously report unsafe or criminal behaviours and activities.

“We’re really proud to be supporting this special project to help keep passengers and communities across Scotland safe while stamping out crime on the railway.”

Crimestoppers Scotland receives record number of calls

Over the past year (1st April 2020-31st March 2021) independent charity Crimestoppers Scotland and their youth programme Fearless received a record 16,500 calls and contacts from the Scottish public.

This increase sees the most disseminations to Police Scotland and Law Enforcement ever – representing a 10% increase in crime information compared to 19/20 and a 65% increase over five years.

Responding to school and youth service closures, Fearless delivered 12 Scotland-wide campaigns focused on empowering young people with key information about high harm crimes.

Over 58,000 young people from all across Scotland visited the charity’s youth website Fearless.org and reported crime – 100% anonymously – more than ever before. 

Information from the public also achieved:

  • 549 Criminals arrested and charged (thanks to Police Scotland & Law Enforcement)
  • Three people were arrested and charged with murder/unlawful killings.
  • ‘Street’ Value of drugs recovered £1,479,599. Nearly ONE AND A HALF MILLION.
  • Six Wanted Persons and Fugitives were arrested and charged.
  • 27 disqualified and uninsured drivers were arrested and charged.
  • Five arrested for possession of a firearm and five firearms recovered.

Angela Parker, National Manager for Crimestoppers Scotland, said: ‘The past year has been unprecedented and very challenging, but people across Scotland came forward and trusted us with their information.

“From drug dealing to child harm and neglect, we heard from thousands of people concerned about crime in communities. We are so encouraged and grateful for the people who contacted our charity – thanks to the Scottish public, life is better for many and communities are safer.” 

 Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie (Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing) said: “We want the public to know they can trust us when they come to us with information, we take their reports seriously and carry out thorough investigations into incidents or crimes that may be reported. 

“We also understand though that speaking to the police in person about certain situations can be daunting for some. In that respect, Crimestoppers is an essential partner for Police Scotland, enabling people to submit information anonymously and allowing that information to be shared with us quickly.

“We’re also grateful to Fearless for its ongoing survey giving young people a chance to speak about what they think about crime and how safe they feel in their communities. Their input will help shape our approach and interactions with young people for the future.’’

Ash Denham MSP, Minister for Community Safety said: “The Scottish Government is committed to tackling crime in Scotland by working across the country with partners, such as Crimestoppers, to help communities remain safe and resilient where people can live their lives safe from crime and harm.

“By picking up the phone and contacting Crimestoppers you can help to prevent, detect and solve crime. The number of reports to Crimestoppers has reached a record high in the past 12 months.

“This has been of particular importance and value during these challenging times and I would like to thank them sincerely for the part they play in helping keep people in Scotland safe.”

1,200 community rail volunteers poised to play a key role in Scotland’s recovery

Members of a grassroots rail movement have continued to strive for Scotland’s communities and work towards a greener transport future, despite the pandemic.

Figures from Community Rail Network’s Community Rail in Scotland report – sponsored by Rail Delivery Group – highlight that over 1,200 volunteers give over 55,000 hours annually to help improve social inclusion, sustainable and healthy travel, wellbeing, economic development, and tourism in their local area, valued at £4.7 million.

Making up Scotland’s nine Community Rail Partnerships and 260 station groups, they carry out projects to bring improvements to rail services and stations, with improved accessibility and inclusion, and help communities to have a voice in rail and transport development, working with train operators, local authorities and other partners.

Across Scotland, groups are involved in community gardening, food growing and biodiversity projects on station land; the creation of heritage boards or community artwork to help people learn about and take pride in their area;  volunteering at stations to create a safe and attractive environment for passengers; work with rail industry partners towards improvements, such as better shelters, signage or pedestrian and cyclist access; and running events, workshops and activities to promote sustainable travel, bring people together, and celebrate the local community.

Community rail partnerships and groups have continued to support communities and local resilience efforts during the pandemic (see below). They are now looking forward to playing a pivotal role in building back better from Covid, helping our railways to be a vital component of a greener, more inclusive way forward as part of a ‘green recovery’.

Community rail across Scotland:

In Edinburgh, the 6VT Youth Community Rail Partnership (6VT CRP) is Britain’s only youth-led community rail partnership.

It was established via the 6VT Youth Café, which provides a space for young people to come together to access support to improve their lives and realise their potential. Working mainly with 14–21-year-olds, the café has helped more than 160,000 young people since the late 1990s, providing access to a range of services and personal development opportunities.

The group devises projects on issues that are important to its young members, such as supporting the launch of the Crimestoppers ‘Fearless’ anti-hate crime campaign at Edinburgh Waverley Station, hosting suicide prevention training, and an award-winning pram safety project focused on making rail travel easier for parents travelling with buggies.

More widely across Scotland – from Edinburgh, across to Glasgow and into the Highlands – the Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership has continued its support for local communities by launching a new ‘Travelling Classroom’ initiative.

The project will involve local primary schools along the route between Dunkeld & Birnam and Carrbridge, and aims to help children learn about rail safety, rail travel, and promote better engagement between the railway and local people.

When travel restrictions are lifted, this will see trains becoming classrooms for the pupils as they take a trip to enhance their learning.

Commenting on the importance of the community rail movement in Scotland, Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network said: “Community rail works to make our railways as inclusive as possible, bringing people together and bolstering local pride and wellbeing.

“In Scotland, community rail groups have adapted and responded, supporting communities through the pandemic, maintaining positivity, and continuing to help people get the most from their railways and stations.

“As our communities rebuild from Covid-19, within community rail, and across our railways, we will need to redouble efforts, with our partners, to create confidence and togetherness, and play our part in re-orientating ways of thinking and living to be more socially and environmentally responsible.

“Community rail is all about that: communities and connectedness, and people working together to make things better for each other and our shared future.”

Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The railway is at the heart of local communities and the fantastic initiatives by community rail volunteers in Scotland play to its strengths, connecting people up and down the country.

“As we recover from the pandemic, getting more people back on trains will be vital to boost local economies and the environment, so the support of community rail will be more important than ever.”

Ros Houldsworth, ScotRail’s community liaison executive, adds: “From promoting tourism to improving station connectivity, from increasing opportunities for young people to encouraging environmental ambitions, the impact of community rail continues to grow.

“I believe that community rail will have a vital role to play in supporting ScotRail and the wider rail industry in Scotland, as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

For more information on community rail and to find your groups near you, visit communityrail.org.uk.