PCC’s £140,000 Safer Communities Fund opens for applications
9th September 2020
A grant of up to £6000 could be coming to a community near you!
That’s the message from Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) on the opening of the latest grant round of his multi-million pound awarding Safer Communities Fund (SCF).
This time a pot of £140,000 is available for voluntary, community groups, charities and partner organisations to bid for grants of up to £6000 to help keep their communities safe and feeling safe.
The latest round of the fund welcomes projects targeting any of the priorities in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan but there is a specific focus on supporting BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities and tackling hate crime, including supporting victims/repeat victims.
The Safer Communities Fund was launched by the PCC in 2014 and since then has now granted around £3.4m to more than 750 groups, projects and organisations, including a recent extraordinary Covid-19 grant round which saw 32 groups receive £170,000 in emergency funding.
PCC Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “I know it’s a really tough time for many currently so I am very grateful to be able to launch this latest grant round and do what I can to help, supporting those that really need it to make a difference on the ground.
“We see too many negative stories about division and as Police and Crime Commissioner I want use my position to contribute to a counter narrative as I believe our communities are fundamentally strong. The words of Jo Cox always remain at the forefront of my mind in that ‘we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us’, I truly believe that.
“So, if you know of a voluntary, community group, charity or other body that could make a real difference in your community with a grant of up to £6000, please let them know about the fund.
“I also want to say an especially big thank you to West Yorkshire Police investigators who even in a pandemic as disruptive as Covid-19 has been, have still managed to ensure crime doesn’t pay and help recover ill-gotten monies and assets from criminals which enables this fund to continue.”
The Safer Communities Fund is financed through money and assets recovered from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act by West Yorkshire Police and Prosecutors.
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable, John Robins added:
“The Safer Communities fund provides an opportunity for people and groups to apply for funding and make a positive difference in their area.
“Working in collaboration is key to successful community policing and sits at the heart of our Neighbourhood Policing Teams in West Yorkshire.
“I encourage groups and individuals who want to make their area a safer place to apply for this funding, so that proceeds seized from criminals are put back into the community to fund local initiatives that strengthen and unite communities.”
The Safer Communities Fund closes for applications at 12 noon (mid-day) on Friday 16th October 2020.
To find out more about the fund and to apply, visit https://www.westyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/safer-communities-fund/how-apply