The background to Station 20 began from the following concerns:

• Community demands for action to address crime issues in their communities that affect their quality of life and sense of wellbeing and confidence that the Vale is a safe place to live.
• The number of young people that are at risk of offending who are not in education employment or training who will not positively contribute to the economic activity of the Vale.
• Services and partner agencies that had no suitable facility to conduct intervention and training to young people and community groups.

Within the fire station there was a large area that was used to deliver prevention activities for the fire service.  The activities were well managed, however due to the limited facilities the activities were few and far between.  The Safer Vale Manager worked with the Station Commander in order to try and fill the gap to deliver prevention work from the fire station by redesigning the space to maximise the opportunities.

The room required a refurbishment in order to meet health and safety requirements and to ensure that the work did not impact on the day to day running of the fire station and Safer Vale.

Consultation took place with agencies to determine requirements.  Plans were drawn up for the refurbishment and funding was sourced from a variety of places, Home Office, Welsh Assembly Government, Youth Services, Housing and Barry regeneration.

The refurbishment of the room is now complete and agencies are using the Station 20 on a daily basis.  The management of the room is key to sustaining the project and terms of use/application forms are being used in order to monitor the outcomes and usage of the room.  Groups currently using the room are:

• ASB prevention group (Stigma)
• Neighbourhood Watch
• Pass Plus
• Probation - IDAP Programme
• Pupil referral unit
• Vibe Experience
• Young Carers
• Young People’s Welsh language group

The official launch of the room was held on Friday 11th February 2011.  This is a year to the date that the Safer Vale co-location offices were launched and will signify one of the strong outcomes of what Partnership working can achieve.

The ‘Prevention Room’, offers a bright, comfortable and safe environment for any community group or partner to deliver activities that assist in the reduction of crime and the fear of crime.

Wales' Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant said, “Earlier this year, I visited the Safer Vale Partnership and I was delighted to see how current crime prevention programmes are helping to make the Vale a safer place to live.

“I hope the new Station 20 Room will help them continue their good work and that many more community groups will get involved in the activities on offer.

He continued “Creating safe communities across Wales is a priority for the Welsh Assembly Government and I support any project which helps achieve this.”