About People Zones
People Zones is an initiative that is designed to build on the positivity and skills of communities around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to make these areas safer for everyone.
In these zones, we utilise an Asset-Based Community Development – or ABCD approach. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with an area, the ABCD approach focuses on the strengths of our communities, harnessing the skills and networks within them to build towards positive change.
Communities are the cornerstones of every neighbourhood, and we know how important it is for people to feel safe in their local area. Our vision is to grow safer communities by building on strengths, creating connections and empowering everyone to play a role, and we’re doing that through People Zones.
Nobody knows communities like those who live in them, and by using their knowledge of what is needed in these areas, we can strive to work together to fill gaps in provisions and ensure everyone has access to the community assets they need.
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People Zones
These assets include:
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People, such as residents, community leaders and volunteers
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Community services such as libraries, schools, food banks, youth clubs, sports and health services
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Local businesses like shops and restaurants
By working together in partnership with residents and local organisations, we can aim to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, making our neighbourhoods safer, giving people a sense of pride in their communities and improving quality of life.
Our community-specific research within each People Zone highlighted local talent, community leaders, and those all-important organisations that already serve the community so well. Through our People Zone Grant Fund, we have focused on enhancing these critical community assets whilst also developing opportunities to fill the gaps in local provision, based on the key themes highlighted through our research (hyperlink to ‘Data’), which include things like health and wellbeing, community safety, youth provision, pride of place, crime, and anti-social behaviour.
By working together in partnership with residents and local organisations, the aim is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, making your neighbourhoods safer, giving people a sense of pride in their communities and improving quality of life.
Everybody can play a role in this - it’s just a case of empowering people to do so. With appropriate investment, communities can build the knowledge and skills required to shape a bright future for their area.
Community Leadership Programme
In 2021/2022, the Violence Reduction Network partnered with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to commission a new leadership programme for community leaders within Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
The principal aim of the Programme is to provide local community leaders with access to a free high-quality course which enables them to develop their leadership style, knowledge and skills and apply this to their work with the purpose of building stronger and safer communities. A second aim is to establish and grow a network of local leaders who will provide peer support and work collaboratively with the OPCC and VRN in our shared determination to make our communities safer. By investing in the expertise and experience of local community leaders who already hold positive relationships with people in their communities, our hope is that the benefits of the Programme will remain part of these communities for years to come.
Since its inception in 2021/21, there has been a cohort of the Programme each year with cohort 4 completing the programme in 2024. The Community Leadership Programme is being delivered over a three-month period in collaboration with leadership coaches at Jones Consulting. By joining this Programme, participants will learn new concepts and techniques to reach those most at need in their neighbourhoods and have the space and support to develop their unique leadership style. Together with this new knowledge and confidence leaders are able to make even more of an impact in their community work.
Community Leadership Programme
Cohort 5
The Community Leadership Programme runs for 14 weeks starting from the 3rd April 2025 to the 10th July 2025. The sessions will take place face-to-face on Thursday evenings from 5:45pm to 8:45pm.
The programme is for community leaders working across the voluntary and community sector within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The programme is designed to empower community leaders with the skills and tools they need to play their role in preventing and reducing crime and violence.
Community Payback
The People Zones team work closely with the Unpaid Work Department within the East Midlands Probation Service, to seek out and undertake Community Payback projects within the People Zone areas.
Our team will seek opportunities within the People Zone areas that would benefit from Community Payback, and then fund the materials to enable service users within Probation to give back to their communities. Projects must benefit the wider community as well as be able to demonstrate long term sustainable and positive change for the communities, as well as allowing service users to learn new skills for their future.
Some of the projects delivered by Community Payback within the People Zone areas have included:
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Community Garden at Team Hub in New Parks
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Planter Project at Fearon Hall in Bell Foundry
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Big Autumn Clean Up in Bell Foundry
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Clearance Project at Thringstone Primary School
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Community Orchard Project at Charles Booth Centre in Thringstone
If you have a project idea or want to get involved – get in touch today.
Crimestoppers
The People Zones team partner with Crimestoppers to create targeted campaigns that raise awareness about the importance of reporting crime, even if that’s anonymously through Crimestoppers. By focussing on specific community issues such as drug related crime, ASB or domestic abuse, we aim to inform and empower residents to take action.
Our campaigns reach people through a variety of different channels, including literature and resources such as leaflets and signage, social media and educational sessions for all including young people. We also provide resources to partners and community leaders, equipping them with the knowledge to support and upskill others.
By encouraging people to report crime, we help support the relevant partners and people in making communities safer.
