Local charity Southern Brooks Community Partnership (SBCP) was delighted to welcome the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset Sue Mountstevens, last week ( Friday 7^th December 2012). She visited the charity to learn more about its work to support the development of safe, strong and inclusive communities in north Bristol.

The Police Commissioner spent the morning at South Gloucestershire Safer and Stronger Strategic Partnership where Sue confirmed her commitment to working with the Voluntary and Community Sector and said that they would be key for the future in building communities in which people feel safe and are safe..  She commended the Safer and Stronger Community Partnership for the holistic way  in which they approached creating a Safe and Strong Community.

She visited the charity at their offices in Coniston Community Centre in Patchway where she enjoyed lunch in the community cafe run by Southern Brooks.  Sue was welcomed by Trustees spent time talking and listening to the staff team about the range of work they undertake and the issues that people living in Patchway and Filton face.  She was also shown clips of children, young people and families who use Southern Brooks services talking about what a difference the charity has made to their lives.

Speaking about the visit, Andy Thomas, Southern Brooks Chair of Trustees commented:

“Sue’s priorities of finding an integrated approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour and increasing reporting of domestic abuse are very close to our heart.  At the Safer and Stronger Partnership meeting there was talk about a group of 18 year olds in South Gloucestershire who are becoming problematic and are really difficult to deal with – getting in early, identifying them as young as possible is key to being able to work with them to make long term change and to avoid them getting into trouble.  This is exactly the work at that Southern Brooks focuses on, identifying the children and working with them and their parents to prevent problems escalating.

We very much look forward to working with Sue over the next few years, and appreciate the time she took to visit us.”

Sue Mountstevens, Police Commissioner added: Southern Brooks do amazing work, they are amazing people and have amazing projects. I’m humbled by the work achieved by the charity and enjoyed my visit so much I wish I could have stayed longer.”