Harrow will benefit from half a million pounds to help tackle youth violence after its council secured funding from the Home Office.

It comes as part of a series of projects aimed at supporting young people across the country.

Harrow Council, in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and charities Ignite Trust, Wish, Synergy and Khulisa, will use the £500,000 to help prevent serious crime in the borough.

Cllr Krishna Suresh, responsible for crime and community cohesion at Harrow Council, said: “We are at the forefront of the fight to keep our young people out of trouble – as this successful bid shows.

“The money will help us and our partners support and train young people at risk, which will benefit everyone in Harrow’s community, making our neighbourhoods safer and a better place to live now and in the future.”

The grant – part of the Home Office’s early intervention fund – will benefit 1,500 of the borough’s most vulnerable young people, as well as some 200 parents and 300 professionals working in schools and youth services.

It will be used to support several initiatives such as counselling, early intervention programmes, parental support, and guidance for sufferers of sexual abuse.