Listening to the community and taking action in Southampton

Local partners are working together because some children and young people in St Mary’s and Holyrood have been experiencing harm linked to criminal exploitation, particularly connected to drug activity in certain places.

This work is not about blaming young people or families. It focuses on making places safer, increasing positive activities, and ensuring trusted adults are visible where young people spend time.

This approach is known as Contextual Safeguarding.

What did the community tell us?

Following various meetings, conversations and surveys, parents, residents, children, community and faith leaders and businesses, said they wanted:

• More youth provision and positive activities
• Better lighting and CCTV
• Trusted adults present in local spaces
• More visible police patrols

What has changed so far?

Partners have worked together to deliver changes that directly respond to what the community asked for: 

• Youth outreach expanded to 7day coverage
• Funding secured for MUGA repairs, improving spaces for young people
• A new Kicks football session launching in Holyrood
• CCTV installed in and around underpasses (Brinton’s road/Craven Street)
• Extra police and community safety patrols to increase visibility and reassurance
• Growing Community Guardianship, with more local people and organisations involved
• Early work to explore opening the Pavilion in Hoglands Park

Organisers say the public's feedback continues to shape this work.

Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings take place regularly in your area. Please let them know if there are other ways they can share updates with you and hear your views and feedback. 

Community Guardianship – how you can help

Community Guardianship is about local adults and organisations helping to keep places safer for children and young people by being visible, approachable and supportive.

Want to hear more, get involved or receive training?
contextual.safeguarding.team@southampton.gov.uk

Worried about a child or something you’ve seen?
CrimeStoppers (anonymous): 📞 0800 555 111 | 🌐 crimestoppers-uk.org
Children’s Services: 📞 023 8083 2004
Police: 📞 101 (nonemergency) | 📞 999 (emergency)

Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility.

By working together, we can continue to strengthen St Mary’s as a safer place for young people and the wider community.