West Mercia Police - Community project grants on offer
Grants of up to £500 are being offered to voluntary and local groups in North Worcestershire for projects that will help support crime reduction and community safety.
The grants are up for grabs from a £15,000 pot being made available by the North Worcestershire Division’s Policing Board.
Following the success of the scheme in previous years registered charities as well as voluntary and community groups in Redditch, Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest are again invited to bid for a share of funding for 2010-11.
Projects must contribute to combating crime and anti-social behaviour, protecting vulnerable people or helping to tackle drug and alcohol abuse – all key aims for West Mercia Police.
Funding is for schemes that must be completed and the grants spent by March 31, 2011.
Past schemes have benefited projects providing activities for youngsters to reduce anti-social behaviour during school holidays and crime prevention schemes.
Last year’s funding provided boosts for 15 organisations including the Tilehouse Allotments Association at Redditch which received £500 to boost shed security for its tenants.
In Bromsgrove the NewStarts community project on the Sidemoor estate was given £500 for its work involving the support of young people with housing problems and providing work placements and volunteering opportunities for the jobless.
And in Wyre Forest the KD15 Scout Group at Habberley, Kidderminster, received £460 to improve its facilities.
Support Services Manager for North Worcestershire Division, Rachel Hartland Lane, said: “This is a popular scheme which has provided valuable funding for a diverse range of groups involved in everything from protecting the vulnerable by publicising scamming techniques to creating or enhancing leisure provision for youngsters.
“All these projects are contributing to a better quality of life for people in the area and have also proved successful in reducing crime and boosting community safety – which is the underlying aim of these grants.
“Due to the demand last year and the funding problems faced by many groups in the current economic climate we felt it was important to continue with this scheme and we hope the grants available this year will help finance equally valuable work for people living in North Worcestershire.”
Application forms are available from the West Mercia Police website by visiting the North Worcestershire Division Local Policing section at www.westmercia.police.uk. Alternatively follow the link: www.westmercia.police.uk/localpolicing/north-worcestershire/
Contact details for Local Policing Teams can also be found on the website along with more information about West Mercia Police’s key objectives.
Applications must be made by Monday, November 1, and those awarded grants will be notified by November 30. Groups are encouraged to discuss bids with their Local Policing Teams before submitting an application.