Police have donated £6000 to the Trax Motor Project in Oxford.

Chief Supt Brendan O’Dowda visited the Oxford charity based at Red Barn Farm, in Woodstock Road, yesterday where he handed over the cheque at a special ceremony.

The money donated to the Oxford charity comes from the Police Property Act Fund. This is a fund that supports local charities by raising funds from the sale of unclaimed crime property.

Chief Supt O’Dowda said: “The Trax Motor Project is a charity that provides a quite outstanding service to young people from around the county.

“It helps them to channel their energies into a wide range of courses that will equip them with skills and qualifications for their future lives.

“They also work with young people who, but for the work they do, may end up going through the courts. By donating this money, we are helping to keep these young people out of the criminal justice system, which is what everyone wants.”

Lyndon Biddle, project manager for the charity, said the money donated by Thames Valley Police would go towards installing a new kitchen facility that will complete its Farmhouse Project.

He said: “This funding is the final piece in the jigsaw which will enable us to pay for these exciting new facilities.

“This funding from Thames Valley Police will help us to help them and so reduce the likelihood of them re-offending “All the young people who come through Trax in the future will benefit from this and will, at the very least, have one good meal a day.”

Celebrity chef and author Sophie Grigson also visited the project. She will be helping with the design of the kitchen and working on a training programme for the charity with nutritionist Sharon Singer.

Other people that attended the ceremony on Wednesday included long time Trax supporter and High Sheriff of Oxford, Richard Dick, who has also provided some funding for the Farmhouse Project.

Mr Dick was joined by Peter Patrick the chair of trustees for the charity, a group of children from Mabel Pritchard School, one of the organisations who will be using the new facilities, representatives from the Youth Offending Services and two groups from local schools.