Community centre boosted by cash seized from crime

The drive provides food and essentials to people in need

A community centre which served as a "safe haven" after the murder of a nine-year-old girl in Liverpool has received a funding boost - thanks to cash seized from criminals.

The Drive, in the Dovecot area, is close to where Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed after a gun-firing drug dealer chased a fellow criminal into her home in August 2022.

The centre became a sanctuary for local residents after the trauma of Olivia's death, particularly for children.

It has now received £6,000 of money that was seized from offenders convicted of drug crimes in Liverpool Crown Court.

The charity provides access to essentials like food and toiletries to those in need, and also aims to address social isolation with community classes and clubs.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was murdered in Dovecot in August 2022

Nicola McHugh, The Drive's community engagement officer, said the donation would “make a huge difference to all the services we offer”, particularly its food club.

She added: “We have a large selection of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as other essentials and can give people 10 items of food for £3.50.

“The money will allow us to buy a freezer so we can expand our food club by also offering frozen food."

Ms McHugh said the funding would also allow the centre to restart its toddler sessions, which had to be suspended due to a lack of equipment.

The charity was chosen by Merseyside Police officers to receive the funding as part of the force’s Operation Payback, launched in 2022.

Dovecot is also one of the areas targeted by the EVOLVE Liverpool-Knowsley initiative, which sees Merseyside Police team up with community organisations to tackle organised crime.

The initiative was launched following Olivia's murder, as well as the murders of 29-year-old Ashley Dale and 22-year-old Sam Rimmer.

Supt Tony Fairhurst, one of the senior officers involved in the project, said: “I was delighted to hear The Drive has received funding from Operation Payback to help them with the fantastic service they offer to the people in Dovecot and further afield.”