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Community Peer Mentors - County Durham and Darlington

The Community Peer Mentors were the award-winning initiative of the previous Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner the late Ron Hogg CBE in 2015 and was delivered by Safer Communities until 2020.

Funding continued under Joy Allen’s leadership as the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner and is now delivered in-house where the scheme has continued to grow exponentially.

What was the aim?

To empower change, reduce vulnerability and provide a voice for the unheard for anyone across County Durham and Darlington.

Mentors offer unique support to each client, with the aim of leaving individuals feeling safer and inspiring confidence. The aim is to empower change, reduce vulnerability and provide a voice for the unheard, and this fantastic support is given to anyone whatever their background or circumstances, whether victim, survivor, perpetrator, prison leaver or someone forgotten or neglected by society; so long as they wish to change, the support will be provided.

How did Safer Communities help?

We delivered the programme on behalf of the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner from 2015 to 2020.

This unique approach has seen on average an 81% reduction in contact with services, reduced offending and hospital admissions, assisted reintegration back into society, people in disappear returning to employment and education, learning new skills and coping technique’s, identifying without this support they would have taken their own lives.

For more information visit the website https://www.communitypeermentors.com/

What were the results

Supported vulnerable and isolated people after life-changing events

Support provided to victims, survivors, perpetrators, or those forgotten and left by society.

Helped to reduce demand on frontline services

Helped to reduce the demand on frontline policing and other frontline emergency and statutory services.

Community benefits

Managed an award-winning team of volunteer mentors with lived experience

Other people we’ve helped

See all the people we’ve helped

SARC North East

SARC North East – provided a 24/7 service at four centres across the region in Teesside, Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle, to anyone who had experienced sexual violence and/or sexual abuse. Our specialist staff provided support following recent and non-recent sexual assault, providing adice to both patients and police and provided acute forensic examination.

Friends Against Scams

Safer Communties is an official partner in the delivery of Friends Against Scams awareness sessions. We educate people how they can learn about the different types of scams and how to spot and support themselves and others. With increased knowledge and awareness, people can make scams part of everyday conversation with their family, friends and neighbours, which will enable them to protect themselves and others.