THE POLICE and Crime Commissioner has announced a new wave of funding for community organisations across Berkshire.
PCC Matthew Barber has said that more than £200,000 is to be distributed between 36 organisations after more than 170 applied.
The fund sees proceeds from the sale of goods recovered by the police, which cannot be returned to their original owners, given to groups who support one of the priorities outlined in the PCC’s Police and Criminal Justice plan.
These priorities include preventing crime and protecting communities, fighting serious organised crime, combating fraud and cybercrime, improving the criminal justice system and reducing re-offending, and tackling illegal encampments.
After a panel evaluated submissions and diligence checks were made, 36 organisations were selected.
Hope and Vision Communities, the Woodley Town Centre Partnership, Clean Slate, Love Music Hate Violence, and Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET) are all among those receiving funding, as well as The Inside Out Trust, Trailblazes Mentoring, and Story Group Mindfulness and Wellness CIC.
Announcing the funding, Mr Barber said: “I’m really pleased to invest extra cash – taken from criminals by our hard-working police officers – putting it back into the fight against crime.
“Along with other projects supported by my Community Fund, these initiatives are making a difference across every area in Thames Valley.
“These groups know their communities, engage with local policing teams and work to protect people and address local concerns. It’s even better knowing we’re using money taken from criminals, to support projects that will really benefit the community.
“Communities will benefit from the funding in a number of ways including support to reduce re-offending, knife crime education in schools, as well as counselling and support for victims of crime.”
Jason Hogg, Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police, said: “Both the Police and Crime Commissioner and I are pleased to be able to award over £200,000 of funding to 36 voluntary and community groups in the first round of this year’s Community Fund.
“This grant funding will ensure community and voluntary organisations can continue to run projects that play an important role in preventing crime and protecting our communities.
“I look forward to meeting the successful applicants at the presentation event in Oxfordshire next month.”
A full list of recipient organisations is available via: thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk
