Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach last Thursday unveiled a new £250,000 grant scheme offering local organisations a financial lifeline in their work to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.
To mark his first anniversary as PCC, the Commissioner outlined details of a new Prevention Fund which is designed to help voluntary and third sector groups support the public safety goals in his Police and Crime Plan and confront pressing community issues.
Grants of up to £25,000 are available in 2017-18 for organisations whose projects successfully address the PCC's crime priority areas which include hate crime, domestic violence and abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), drug and alcohol-related problems, sexual violence and mental health. A further £250,000 is available in 2018-19.
Grants will be allocated in a two-tiered system of up to £9,999pa and £10,000-£25,000pa. Funding grants for projects of £10,000 and above will only be awarded for exceptional projects.
Launching the fund, Willy Bach said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for community-based groups to apply for crucial funding which will support their efforts to promote public safety and help people make lifelong changes to their lifestyles.
"Prevention is a key theme of my Police and Crime Plan and I'm well aware of the value ground-based projects play in helping people to overcome their problems. Investing in practical, early intervention will not only reduce demand on frontline police services it will ultimately drive down crime in the long-term.
"Public funding is scarce and I hope those organisations which share my vision for a safer Leicestershire apply for a slice of this precious investment to kick start their community safety efforts in 2017-18."
Grants are available for new initiatives, existing successful projects where funding is tight or to enable existing projects to develop further.
Applicants are asked to consider the Police and Crime Plan (www.leics.pcc.police.uk /PoliceandCrimePlan-2017-2021) and the Commissioning Framework 2017/18 (www.leics.pcc. police.uk/ Commissioning-Framework-2017-18) before submitting a bid.
