NORTH Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin visited Bangor Saints Football Club at Byw'n Iach Bangor to gain an insight into the club's impactful work with youths.

Mr Dunbobbin also learnt how money partly taken from criminals is helping to support the team’s work in the community.

Bangor Saints was successful in its bid for community funding through the Your Community, Your Choice initiative, which helps support grassroots projects across North Wales.

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Funding for this initiative comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest coming from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

During the visit, the Commissioner, met with Daf Roberts, Bangor Saints' coaching coordinator.

Daf introduced him to the club's players and outlined how the funding will enhance their ability to serve young people in the area, such as the need for improved lighting to facilitate year-round evening training sessions.

Bangor Saints caters for children aged seven to 17 and boasts nearly 100 players.

The club hosts practice sessions during the winter months and struggled with adequate lighting for their pitch at Bangor Rugby Club’s ground during the dark evenings.

It plans to use the money from their initiative towards their project, Lights on for Footie, which will see the club purchase portable floodlights which will allow their training sessions to take place all year round.

Daf Roberts said: “With this generous funding we can continue training sessions throughout the winter weather for our four mini teams with indoor and 3G facilities, whilst the older teams are able to continue with our mobile floodlights at Bangor Rugby Club.

“This funding will enable us to upgrade the lights ensuring our under-17s team can use them after the under-13s team have trained.

“Furthermore, we are now able to offer an extra evening session of fitness training for our older teams and this is something we have wanted to do for a while.

“For this, we are very grateful.”

Mr Dunbobbin said: "I am very pleased to provide this funding for Bangor Saints to install proper lighting for their training facilities.

“Giving young people positive outlets and pastimes is a key way to help steer them away from getting involved in acts like antisocial behaviour.

“Having a place to play football, be part of a team, and stay active during the evening hours provides a healthy alternative to getting caught up in crime.

“It is these factors that make Bangor Saints’ project align with my Police and Crime Plan's focus on supporting local communities and reaching out to vulnerable young people.

“I'm proud we could make this commitment to the club and the young people of the community.”

In the 11 years since Your Community, Your Choice started, almost £600,000 has been awarded to nearly 200 projects working to reduce crime in their neighbourhoods and to support the priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan.