A project to help get reformed offenders and vulnerable people into work has received a cash boost from Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.

The PCC awarded the maximum £20,000 from his Safer in Kent Fund to Thanet Community Development Trust to support 45 people in Ramsgate, Margate, Sandwich and Canterbury.

The Trust’s New Beginnings courses provide ex-offenders, unemployed people and those deemed at risk of offending with skills, training, work experience and help in writing a CV.

Head tutor Andrew Morris said: "Thanks to funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s fund, we will be able to help over 40 Thanet residents acquire the skills and attitudes they need to find a job and start a new chapter in their lives.

"That’s more than 40 thank yous."

The PCC Mr Scott said: "I received 36 applications for funding into my Safer in Kent Fund, all of which were scrutinised to test whether they represented good use of taxpayers’ money.

"I have promised to invest in schemes that make people safer and reduce re-offending and was particularly impressed with the New Beginnings courses.

"I awarded them with the maximum £20,000 because they demonstrated clear aims and measurable outcomes."

New Beginnings is one of 11 schemes across Kent and Medway receiving a share of more than £117,000 from the Safer in Kent Fund, which Mr Scott created last year to support community projects which address the issues listed in Safer in Kent: The Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan.

Mr Scott, who this month also awarded Thanet Domestic Abuse Forum £13,450 from his Victim Specialist Services Fund, and Homeless Care £10,000 from his Mental Health and Policing Fund; added: "I am currently reviewing my Commissioning Strategy to make sure that the money I award in 2018/19 continues to go to those projects which best support the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan."