A COMMUNITY centre has reduced crime — and now it is hoped the scheme can be rolled out across Bolton.

The charity behind Breightmet’s ROC Centre is hoping to drum up support for new community facilities.

Since Redeeming Our Communities opened the ROC Centre in Breightmet Community Church, in Winchester Way, last year, crime levels in the area have fallen.

Now, the organisation is holding a ROC Conversation event at The Victoria Hall, Knowsley Street, to discuss the prospect of opening a similar service elsewhere in Bolton.

Debra Green OBE, the national director of ROC, said: “The evening is for businesses that may want to sponsor a project and for volunteers who may want to help set up a project.

“We can train those volunteers and help them to see what that entails. We are also looking for people who might have expertise, know of a building or funding we can apply for. If we have the people in the room we might have the pieces of jigsaw and can pool all the resources together.

“We are hoping to have six or seven projects open in Bolton win a year from now.”

The charity aims to transform communities by working with the police, fire service, schools and churches, to find ways to reduce crime.

The ROC Centre sees 450 people use the 14 projects on offer within the building each week.

Services include a launderette, a free ROC Cafe for young people and ROC Restore, which tackles crime through restorative justice by bringing together victims and offenders of low level crime in a meeting with trained volunteers.

It is funded through grants, businesses, fundraising events and donations.

Insp Wayne Readfern, for Bolton North Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “The Breightmet ROC Cafe continues to grow in strength and is now a well established facility where young people can meet, socialise and feel safe. We have had great reductions in anti-social behaviour since the ROC started.

“There were 37 less incidents over the first three months, which also included the summer holidays. I believe that the ROC was pivotal to this in providing something for young people to do, especially on Friday evenings. But it is not just about diverting the young people who would otherwise have been causing a nuisance, it is also about rewarding the ones who don’t get into trouble and The ROC.”

He added that the cafe is a good opportunity for officers to meet young people in relaxed atmosphere.

Special Constable Nicki Forgham, attends ROC Cafe each Friday. She said the cafe includes a disco, bingo, table-tennis and other activities for people aged 11 to 18.

All children are welcome to attend, whether they have been in trouble in the past or not. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 18, between 7pm and 9pm. To attend the event email info@roc.uk.com