We’re proud to celebrate the recent success of Argyle Community Trust, whose ACTing with Children intervention initiated and funded through Safer Cornwall has won the Championship Community Project of the Season at the 2025 English Football League Awards. The award recognises the vital work being delivered across Cornwall to prevent serious violence and support vulnerable young people.
Sarah Necke, Community Safety Officer (Exploitation; Serious Violence; Reducing Reoffending), and Mandy Youell, SVPP Coordinator with charity Safer Stronger Communities; accompanied the project team to receive their award at the House of Commons – a prestigious occasion, attended by fellow awards winning football clubs and players from across England. Mandy spoke to Sky Sports journalist Michelle Owen about the success of the project as well as the strategic need to routinely identify children affected by parental imprisonment.
ACTing with Children works with children and young people aged 0–18 who have a parent in prison. Evidence shows that these young people are at significantly higher risk of experiencing emotional trauma, poor mental health, lower educational outcomes, social exclusion — and sadly, of becoming involved in crime themselves. The project tackles this head-on by providing targeted, trauma-informed support — reducing stigma, promoting resilience, and helping children build brighter, safer futures. By identifying and working with children early, we can break the cycle before it starts.
At Safer Cornwall, we know that prevention works best when it’s rooted in real community need, delivered through trusted partnerships. This award is a testament to that approach.
Caitlin Jones, one of the programme leads, said: “The work we provide is not just important — it’s vital. It provides much-needed support and attention to communities and issues that have too often remained overlooked.”
An independent evaluation of the ACTing with Children project indicates a contribution to long-term savings for health and criminal justice services. Delivered at an average cost of £982.50 per child, the project was estimated to have nearly covered costs within Year 1, with a projected social return of £8 for every £1 invested.
According to government data, nearly 200,000 children in England and Wales were estimated to have a parent in prison in just one year (October 2021–October 2022). Yet due to stigma and lack of formal identification processes, the true figure is almost certainly higher. In fact, national research shows nearly 80% of families affected will never tell anyone outside of close family and friends — leaving many children without the support they urgently need.
Mark Lovell, CEO of the Trust, added: “It is great to see how far the programme has come in such a short space of time and that it has been properly recognised for the incredible work it has provided for young people in Cornwall.”
Safer Cornwall are incredibly proud to support this work and congratulate Argyle Community Trust on their well-deserved award. The project will now go forward to the national final against Port Vale’s ‘Baby Bank’ and Charlton Athletic’s ‘Youth Engagement Vehicles’ to compete for the overall EFL Community Project of the Season award at the end of the month.