Proceeds of crime to help protect young people from exploitation

An education charity delivering violence reduction programmes to young people in Merseyside has received nearly £5,000 in funding from money seized from criminals.

Ariel Trust, based in Toxteth, received a cheque for £4655.25 earlier this month from officers involved in Operation Payback, a funding scheme that sees money confiscated from offenders appearing before Liverpool Crown Court on drugs charges given to local charities.

Since its launch in 2022, Operation Payback has given more than £250,000 back to the community.

Director of Ariel Trust Paul Ainsworth was presented the cheque by officers involved in Operation Payback alongside a group of Police Cadets and children from Windsor Community Primary School, Toxteth participating in the Mini Police scheme.

The money from Operation Payback will contribute to expanding the ‘Grassing or Grooming?’ programme that is currently delivered in 150 schools across Merseyside that aims to break the grass culture, teaching children from a young age that silence is not an option, while also empowering them to avoid being groomed by those looking to exploit them for criminal gain.

The ‘Grassing or Grooming?’ programme has been subject to independent evaluation by experts at Liverpool John Moore’s University who measured a significant increase in the number of children who could explain grooming after taking part in the intervention, rising from 25% to 80.7%.

Paul Ainsworth said: “The programme uses a combination of drama and role play to help teach young people what to do if one of their friends was being groomed, inform them of the potential consequences and equip them with the right mindset and vocabulary to know that getting help is not grassing.

“Evaluators found the project could have a greater impact if younger children were engaged so the money from Operation Payback will be used to develop a new version of ‘Grassing or Grooming?’ specifically for infant schools called ‘Telling tales or asking for help’ designed to help younger children develop positive help seeking behaviour.”

He added: “We have to be very careful when doing violence reduction work with young children.

“We want to develop positive behaviour that prepares children for the challenges that lie ahead. However, we have to do that in a way that makes those children feel safe.

“Getting the message right requires lots of listening to children, parents and teachers. The money from Operation Payback will pay for my team to work in partnership with those important groups of people.”

While at the Ariel Trust, the cadets and Mini Police took part in a demonstration of ‘Grassing or Grooming?’

DS Paul Doran, one of the officers from Operation Payback, said: “The video presentation and subsequent discussion with the young people was brilliant.

“Educating children from a young age about the dangers of grooming and trying to change the culture around grassing is so important.

“We know we need to see behaviour change and these programmes will contribute to helping protect the safety of young people in Merseyside from those who are willing to exploit them so I am delighted to see the proceeds of crime being used to help protect children from grooming and criminal exploitation.”

Fiona Pickering, head teacher at Windsor Community Primary School, added: “We were delighted to attend Ariel Trust with a group of our Mini Police and see the ‘Grassing or Grooming?’ programme.

“The Mini Police is a great way for young people to learn more about the police and strengthen relationships going forward.

“'Grassing or Grooming?’ is a powerful piece of work that I can see will make a big difference to children and I encourage schools to contact Ariel Trust to learn more.”

For more information about the education programmes available through Ariel Trust email [email protected] or call 0151 707 8211.

Image: Sgt John Pope pictured with the Mini Police and Police Cadets