For Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price, investing in young people isn’t a “nice to have” for public services. It’s one of the most effective ways to build safer communities, create opportunities and help the next generation thrive.
As a Founder Patron of The Dome, Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has been part of the journey to bring The Dome to Crewe for around two years and for Dan, backing The Dome is about more than a new building. It’s about giving young people “the time, resources and attention that they deserve.”
It began when Dan met Stuart Manifould, CEO of The Dome, while exploring major investments in youth services across Cheshire. Since then, he has supported the journey to turn The Dome into a reality.
For Dan, the case starts with prevention. He believes youth provision has too often been viewed as an optional extra, leading to years of declining investment. Supporting The Dome is his way of helping to reverse that trend. He believes prevention is the right investment and wants young people to have safe, accessible places to go rather than being moved on from public spaces.
“I want young people in those spaces so those officers can be used on more serious crime activity.”
The issue is personal as well as professional. Dan had youth services when he was growing up and he has watched many of them disappear. Where there’s an appetite to bring something back, especially something as bold as The Dome, he believes public services should help. He’s encouraged that the private sector and the big employers in and around Crewe are contributing too, which he believes demonstrates a shared commitment across sectors to creating opportunities for young people. For him, a project like The Dome is both ambitious and long overdue What excites him most is how The Dome combines traditional youth work with modern opportunities for young people.
He is also clear that today’s young people are growing up in a very different world, with gaming, social media and online platforms now part of everyday life. What he sees in youth services is something that can’t be replicated on a screen: a place to be together, have a great time and benefit from a supervising adult whose role, as he puts it, “isn’t to watch over you but sometimes to steer you if you get a bit carried away.” Those moments of guidance stay with you long after the moment itself.
When Dan speaks to young people, one message comes through consistently: they want to feel safe, particularly when spending time independently in their communities. But he also sees a generation with plenty to offer. He believes today’s young people are among the most informed generations ever, with a strong desire to contribute positively to their communities. That, he believes, is exactly why it’s so important to listen to the young people who will use somewhere like The Dome.
His confidence in The Dome comes from what Youth Zones have already achieved elsewhere, including in nearby Warrington. He points to the impact Youth Zones have on young people, from reducing anti-social behaviour to building confidence and practical skills.
“There isn’t a Dome out there where people are saying we must close this. Quite the opposite, we’re saying we need more of them.”
For Dan, supporting young people isn’t only a job for public services. It’s something that benefits the whole community. He believes people are starting to open their eyes to the challenges young people face, from the cost of living to the cost of home ownership and are saying that children need to be a priority.
“It’s in all of our interests to make sure that the generation that follows is set up to succeed.”
That’s true, he says, whether you’re in the private or public sector, retired or unemployed. And his message to anyone who isn’t sure is a direct invitation.
“Come and visit The Dome if you’re a sceptic and make a contribution, whatever that is.”
That could be volunteering or a financial contribution. It could even be getting your children, nephew or niece to use it. The point, is to use the service and contribute to it.
Asked what young people need most from adults today, he kept it to three words: care, support and advice. The advice he’d give his younger self is just as simple: do something you love. Looking ahead, his hope for the next generation is that young people feel society cares about them succeeding and does everything it can to make that happen. He says that as Police and Crime Commissioner, but also just as a member of the public.
Inspired by Dan’s vision for the next generation? You can help create lasting opportunities for young people across Crewe by supporting The Dome. We’re looking for businesses, organisations and individuals who share our belief in young people’s potential and want to help The Dome make a difference for years to come.
If you’d like to find out more about becoming a Founder Patron, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with Ellen.Birchenough@thedomeyouthzone.org or Kate.Butler@thedomeyouthzone.org to arrange a conversation or to arrange to come and see The Dome for yourself.