An article in the Sunday Times today (Javid cuts funding for knife crime programme) incorrectly claims that the Home Office has reduced funding for the Early Intervention Youth Fund.
The article claims the fund has been reduced to £17 million after the Home Secretary announced that he was doubling the funding available from £11 million to £22 million in July.
This is not correct. Nearly £18m has been allocated following a rigorous selection process. The remaining money will be used to support other serious violence initiatives this year.
In an interview on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, the Home Secretary made clear that £22 million has been set aside for the Early Intervention Youth Fund, in addition to £200 million for the Youth Endowment Fund.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
As well as taking immediate action to curb knife crime, we need a longer-term approach to prevent our young people from getting drawn into a life of crime in the first place.
We are supporting 29 projects which successfully bid for a total of £17.7million over 18 months to divert children and young people away from violent crime.
As part of this we have agreed and committed to spending a further £12million in 2019/20 to support the 29 projects.