Over £140k in grants boost Somerset community crime prevention projects

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Somerset groups will benefit from over £140,000 of funding awarded to charity groups to make communities safer.

Over the summer, 18 grants of up to £10,000 were awarded from the Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund for projects across Somerset, North Somerset, BANES, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

The Fund is managed by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) and Quartet Community Foundation on behalf of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police.

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The projects are for specific areas or groups of people who are at higher risk of being the victims or perpetrators of crime, with a focus on reducing overall crime, serious violence and antisocial behaviour.

Clare Moody, Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Charities and community groups are uniquely positioned to affect positive change in our communities, thanks to their trusted relationships and deep local networks. By engaging with people at risk of entering the criminal justice system, raising awareness of the dangers of crime, and helping to reduce reoffending, they play a crucial role in creating safer communities.

“The grants from this Fund will support these groups in continuing their important work, which directly contributes to preventing crime and its impact — a priority not only for me but for the people of Avon and Somerset.”

Some examples of the funded charities include Young Somerset, who were awarded £9,365 to deliver targeted youth work in Bridgwater and Taunton.

Beloved, a Bristol based charity, also received £10,000 to provide one-to-one support for women in the indoor sex industry.

Finally, Inclusive Change at Work CIC were awarded £8,069 to raise awareness of cyber security in South Gloucestershire.

Barney Simmons from Young Somerset said: “We’re working with lots of young people through the delivery of Youth Hubs, commonly interacting with 50 to 60 young people across the Hubs in Bridgwater and Taunton per week. We’re using this grant to significantly extend our offer to young people, allowing us to deliver a range of fun and educational sessions with an underlying focus on community safety and the impact of crime on young people. As part of this we’re working closely with our local PCSOs, particularly in two known crime hotspots.”

Andy Ridgewell, Programmes Director at SCF said: “We’re delighted to manage this Fund and work in partnership with Quartet Community Foundation to support projects that meet the expectations set out in the Police and Crime Plan. We look for applications for all sorts of projects, ranging from services for young people, events that build community, and awareness raising across groups likely to fall victims of crime. Our website goes into more detail about the funding, and we’d be interested to hear from any community groups who can help.”

The Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund is open for applications until Friday, November 8 2024.