The Aloud events, have also been funded by Gravesham Borough Council this year, and have been supported by local business Blakes, who host the events.

This year more than 800 young people have attended an Aloud event, which features, DJs, dancing, and free pizza and soft drinks all night.

Jackie Coupar, Operation Manager of The Grand Healthy Living Centre and GYG said, “We are so very grateful to receive this funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner. It will directly support the vital work we do with young people, especially through our Aloud project, which brings young people from across the borough together to build positive relationships with the police and to champion the message of saying no to crime.

This funding is much needed. We are very grateful to have been awarded it, as it enables us to continue our work and support the young people of Gravesham. We firmly believe that creating opportunities for young people to engage in positive activities, events, and collaborations with the police can only strengthen trust and build lasting bridges within our community.”

Preventive support is the ethos of the work that GYG provides for young people, they also provide young people with a safe environment to enjoy after school workshops in art, singing, performing, youth committee and podcasting. All guided by qualified youth workers who support the wide and varied needs of young people.

Many youth centres in Kent have closed and funding is critical to support services like GYG.

The funding for Aloud, comes at a time to allow GYG to confidently plan more opportunities for young people into the New Year.

Our youth club nights, Aloud 2 Laugh, has been given £2000 to help sustain the popular under 18s events.

The events, produced by our youth programme, Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG), brings together young people from across the borough to enjoy a safe evening of music and dance, to foster positive relationships and celebrate the diversity of the borough.

Importantly the events, supported by Kent Police also aim to build positive relationships between young people and the police, who regularly attend the events.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, has now awarded Aloud £2000 for the events, which will allow them to continue into 2026.

A night like Aloud gives teenagers a rare space that’s both lively and safe, where they can be themselves without the pressures of adult nightlife or hanging around on the streets.

It offers structure without feeling restrictive, helping young people build confidence as they mix with others their age, discover new interests, and enjoy positive social experiences.

Events like this aren’t just entertainment; they’re preventive—reducing isolation, giving young people somewhere reliable to go, and quietly strengthening the community by fostering healthier friendships and choices.

When these kinds of spaces are available, young people tend to thrive; when they aren’t, the gaps become very visible. This is the kind of provision that keeps a town connected, supported, and forward-looking.