Cash recovered from West Yorkshire criminals is giving a boost to a Leeds-based charity that gives young people the chance to channel their energies into off-road biking.Birstall Urban Motorcycle Project for Youth (BUMPY) has received a grant of £4,740 from the Police & Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire’s Safer Communities Fund.BUMPY scheme
The funding also sees police off-road bikers from Leeds District working with young people at the scheme to pass on some of their skills and expertise
BUMPY, which was set up in 1989, provides a safe and supervised environment where young people of all abilities can learn to ride motorbikes on and off road and also how to maintain the machines.
Throughout spring and summer, groups of young people selected from across Leeds will take part in twelve sessions that will help them learn to ride safely and avoid becoming involved in illegal off-road biking or anti-social behaviour that can affect their communities, particularly in the summer months.
The initiative will also give the police off-road bikers and other neighbourhood officer the opportunity to build a rapport with the young people, who they will continue to work with after the sessions conclude.
West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson said “Over £1.2million of recovered money has been given back to the communities of West Yorkshire through over 270 projects cheque presentationsince the Safer Communities Fund started.
“I am continually impressed by the work of the schemes that get funded and BUMPY is no exception. Building community relationships is a key part of policing and being able to do that while also promoting safe and responsible behaviour is a bonus.
“You can find out more about the fund and projects which have received grants on my website www.westyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk.”
Chief Inspector Chris Matthews, who heads neighbourhood policing in Leeds city centre and south Leeds, said: “This is an excellent scheme which helps young people to develop new skills while steering clear of anti-social behaviour. It benefits not just the individuals involved but communities across Leeds as a whole, and this additional funding will play a vital part in that ongoing work.”
