Council £25,000 grant boost for Drop Inn's 'Safe Raves'

Derbyshire County Council have announced that they have approved a grant of £25,000 to allow the Belper based 'Drop Inn' project team to help local communities develop their own events to nurture talent and reduce anti-social behaviour.

The independently run youth centre and registered Charity  run 'safe raves' which are activities for young people with a music theme such as street dancing, forming a band or DJ-ing skills.

The funding will allow the Drop Inn team to train 40 young people with skills including health and safety and drug and alcohol awareness to help communities develop their own projects by guiding them through the initial development process.

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health Councillor Carol Hart said: "The Drop Inn has an excellent reputation for finding and developing skills and delivering activities for young people in Belper and we're keen to use their expertise to develop this work across Derbyshire.

"It's won many awards and has also been recognised by the police as a positive diversion away from anti-social behaviour, so we're very pleased to give this funding to encourage other communities to

get involved and develop their own 'safe rave' activities."

The funding will be put towards events across Derbyshire including Somercotes, Bolsover, Glossop and Hasland and it is hope the scheme will be extended to other parts of the county.

Since it was launched 12 years ago by Andrea Fox, the award-winning Drop Inn, in Derwent Street, Belper, has provided activities and a safe environment for 13 to 18-year-olds to meet and learn new skills. It also offers support and advice on a range of issues including drug awareness, sexual health and benefits.