Half a Million for ‘People’s Fund’ to Tackle Serious Violence

Half a million pounds is heading to communities across West Yorkshire to help tackle serious violence.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, has announced a ‘People’s Fund’ as part of her ongoing work to create a co-produced serious violence strategy for the region.

It will see up to £100,000 made available for each district and allows local groups and organisations to bid up to £10,000. The winning projects will then be decided upon by local residents.

It comes as the mayor meets community representatives and leaders at a key event in Huddersfield today (Wednesday 21st January), which forms part of the strategy creation.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“This ‘People’s Fund’ will empower local communities to deliver solutions that they know will make the biggest impact. 

“By giving them the resources they need at their disposal, we can turn their ideas into action. 

“Using this money recovered from criminals, we are investing back into our neighbourhoods, preventing more lives being lost to the scourge of serious violence.”

Submissions to the ‘People’s Fund’ can address any aspect of serious violence, whether it be knife-crime, gangs, organised crime or violence against women and girls.

Zola Bromley is the Chair of the West Yorkshire Community Leaders Network, which will also be supporting the ‘People’s Fund’ and said:

“The ‘People’s Fund’ is a powerful statement of trust in communities and their ability to lead solutions to serious violence. Local knowledge and lived experience are critical to effective prevention and strong community-led solutions.

“We see every day how trusted relationships, early intervention, and community-led action can make a real difference.

“Supporting this work, ensures funding reaches the people and places that understand their communities best, with decisions informed by real insight into what works on the ground rather than a one-size-fits-all approach."

Graduates from the latest West Yorkshire Community Leaders Programme will also be receiving their course certificates at the event in Huddersfield.

All terms and conditions for the ‘People’s Fund’ will be on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority website from Thursday 22nd January 2026.

For further information, e-mail the consultation and engagement team. 

Progress Highlights on Serious Violence:

• In the 12 months to December 2025, all knife crime in West Yorkshire was down almost 16% where the victims were under 25 (compared to the same period the previous year)
• In 2024/25, our West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership reached over 15,000 young people under 24 and more than 1000 aged 25 and above.
• Partners countywide have been trained to deliver a virtual reality immersive learning package on knife crime to support young people.
• Over 3 million pounds has already provided to projects through the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund to tackle serious violence, including the ‘Build’ element of Clear, Hold, Build (CHB). CHB is a framework developed by the Home Office to tackle serious and organised crime.