The 2025 Wales Safer Communities Awards has celebrated the outstanding achievements of individuals, teams, and partnerships working to make communities across Wales safer.
The ceremony, held at Aberystwyth University last week, saw 33 awards presented to projects, partnerships, and people who have made a real difference in preventing crime, supporting victims, and building stronger, more resilient communities.
This year’s awards showcased the breadth of partnership working across Wales, with winners representing local authorities, police, third sector organisations, and community groups. The event highlighted the innovative and dedicated work being done to tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, modern slavery, and youth exploitation.
The prestigious overall winner award was jointly presented to Sidestep Flintshire (Action for Children) and the Positive Masculinity Initiative (Media Academy Cymru).
Sidestep Flintshire was recognised for its trauma-informed, relationship-based approach to supporting young people at risk of criminal exploitation in North Wales, setting a benchmark for multi-agency collaboration and safeguarding practice.
Positive Masculinity Initiative was celebrated for its innovative work in South Wales, challenging harmful stereotypes and providing young men with healthier, more constructive models of identity, resilience, and community engagement. The project’s workshops and mentoring have had a measurable impact on wellbeing, behaviour, and community cohesion.
Both projects exemplify the power of partnership and prevention in creating safer, more inclusive communities across Wales.
In addition to the two overall winners, this year’s Safer Communities Awards recognised 20 category winners and 11 highly commended projects, reflecting the breadth and diversity of community safety work taking place across Wales. These winning projects demonstrate innovative approaches to some of the most pressing challenges facing communities today, and their success stories offer inspiration and learning for others.
Projects were honoured from every corner of Wales, demonstrating the strength of partnership working and innovation in both urban and rural settings. Among the category winners were:
- Hwb Cymunedol Amrywiol Môn Diverse Community Hub (Anglesey), supporting integration and wellbeing for diverse communities in North Wales.
- Operation Totara (Cardiff), a multi-agency initiative tackling anti-social behaviour and illegal vehicle use in the capital.
- Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service and Dyfed-Powys Police, for their partnership supporting victims of stalking and improving safeguarding.
- Operation Scotney (Dyfed Powys), for disrupting organised crime and protecting vulnerable people.
- Chwarae Dy Ran (Play Your Part) Campaign (Cwm Taf Morgannwg), for innovative safeguarding and awareness-raising work.
- Weapons Guidance for Schools and Educational Settings in Cardiff, providing a consistent, multi-agency approach to violence prevention in schools.
- Together We Can (Gwent), a community-led mental health and suicide prevention initiative, bringing together public health, local organisations, and lived experience to support men in rugby communities and beyond.
Highly commended awards were presented to projects such as the North Wales Without Violence Partnership, Aeron Arts in Ceredigion, and the Community Safety Education Team and Cerebra Innovation Centre in West Wales, among others.
Alongside teams and partnerships, the Safer Communities Awards also celebrated the remarkable achievements of individuals who have made a significant impact on community safety across Wales. Individual award recipients represent a diverse range of roles and backgrounds, from police officers and youth workers to community advocates and project leaders. Their dedication and innovation have driven positive change making a difference to lives in the communities they represent.
Jane Mudd, Co-Chair of the Safer Communities Board for Wales and Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent said:
“It is inspiring to see the strength of partnership work taking place across Wales, responding to local needs and delivering genuinely life-changing initiatives. It’s heartening to see how prevention is at the heart of so many of these initiatives.
“These awards celebrate the dedication and innovation of those working tirelessly to keep our communities safe, especially in challenging times. By sharing best practice and learning from each other, we can continue to make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Councillor Jason McLellan, Co-Chair of the Safer Communities Board for Wales and Leader for Denbighshire Council said:
“Despite the pressures facing public services, the passion and commitment of staff and volunteers across Wales shines through. They know their communities and the unique challenges facing them and are committed to developing solutions that make a real difference at a local level.
“These awards highlight the resilience and creativity of those working on the frontline of community safety. Their efforts are helping to build safer, more inclusive communities for everyone.”
