PRUDENTIAL PROJECTS

Prudential 4 Youth is based on the proven Youth Action Group approach which has evolved during 12 years of development through the partnership of Crime Concern and Prudential Property Investment Managers Ltd. The Crime and Disorder Act guidance included the phase 'every partnership strategy must include the Youth Action Group approach'.

Already an integral part of the work of community safety partnerships, the focus has now turned to town and city centres across the country, to encourage and support young people to make a real difference in their local community.

Prudential 4 Youth projects are achieving highly significant outcomes to deal with issues of anti-social behaviour, street crime and youth nuisance. Achievements include contributing to a 16% reduction in the theft of mobile phones through the Wolverhampton Mander Centre project, a 21.6% reduction in insurance claims as a result of malicious damage through the Manchester Arndale project and a 70% reduction in youth nuisance through the Washington Galleries project.

A Prudential 4 Youth project tackling anti-social behaviour and the journey to school has been led by Norman Lloyd, National Programme Manager for Prudential 4 Youth, in conjunction with Patchway Community College and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway..

In May 2005 a presentation was given by Year 7 pupils from Patchway Community College at the 'Making Every Child Matter' seminar in Bristol, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.

A number of approaches have been taken by the young people at Patchway Community College to put across messages relating to anti-social behaviour and making the journey to school safer and these include a film, booklets and information cards.

Other partners involved in this project include Gloucestershire District Council, Avon and Somerset Crime Reduction Unit and management at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.

Strongman Phil flexes muscles at The Mall

Phil lifts 9 year old Chloe Ball in her wheelchair

UK strongman Phil Wright was at The Mall recently to help Prudential staff at the centre launch their year-long fund-raising partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

22 stone Phil and Prudential staff were at The Mall to encourage people to use their muscles to fund-raise for people with the disabling, and often fatal, muscle wasting condition, muscular dystrophy.

At the launch was nine year old Chloe Ball from Wotton-Under-Edge who showed her support by bravely allowing Strongman Phil to lift her up in her wheelchair.

Chloe said: "I think it's great that Prudential is going to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. They will be helping people like me to get the right wheelchairs."

Prudential has set a fund-raising target of £150,000 to be raised through a variety of activities through its employee programme Community Pru.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign was chosen by Prudential following a vigorous selection process, culminating in a staff vote that saw 29% of the votes nominating the charity as their number one choice.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the only national charity focusing on all muscular dystrophies and allied disorders. It has pioneered the search for treatments and cures for 40 years and provides practical, medical and emotional support to people affected by the condition.

The Mall and Prudential support new Local Nature Reserve

A much-loved community open space in Patchway, close to The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, recently became the region's newest local nature reserve.

Gorse Covert, an area of mature woodland and adjoining fields, was declared a Local Nature Reserve in recognition of the high value of wildlife and community interest.

South Gloucestershire Council led the campaign to declare the site a local nature reserve. The area is now managed in partnership by volunteers from Patchway Conservation Group and South Gloucestershire Council and Patchway Town Council. The site has recently benefited from funding by Prudential, the owner of The Mall, and their Grass Roots project, which enabled BTCV to work with a number of community groups to improve the site.

Paul Cornes, director of corporate responsibility at Prudential said: "We were proud to support BTCV in delivering this project and to witness such a success in teamwork and community achievement."

In the spring the woodland is carpeted with bluebells and bright yellow celendines and the ponds full of frogs and newts. Throughout the early summer bird songs fill the woodland with cheerful noise. In the autumn a colourful harvest of blackberries may be picked and sloes collected from the blackthorn bushes. Winter brings a clear view of the holly and ivy that adorn the woodland and activities such as coppicing take place to enhance the reserve's biodiversity.

Since the Grass Roots project began a number of improvements have been made to the site including a nature trail being written by the local High school and a number of bird boxes being installed.

The woodland is an oasis for wildlife as the site is surrounded by a large housing estate, which creates many challenging and worthwhile community projects.

If you would like to get involved in helping look after the site or would like further information please contact Patchway Conservation Group on 01454 868530 or South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 863581.