Community safety projects to benefit from £350,000 cash seized from criminals

9th May 2023

Community safety projects to benefit from £350,000 cash seized from criminals

West Yorkshire Mayor urges community groups working to improve public safety to bid for a slice of £350,000 of funding available from today (09/05/23).

Mayor Tracy Brabin’s Safer Communities Fund gives money seized from criminals to organisations that are making their local area safer.

Since 2022, the fund has supported 100 projects with over £1 million.

Now, community groups have until 9 June to submit their application for up to £8,000 from the fund.

The theme of this grant round is ‘Supporting Victims and Witnesses.’ The Mayor is urging West Yorkshire-based organisations with an idea for a project to come forward and apply.

Mayor Brabin said:

“We’re determined to create a safer, fairer West Yorkshire and have invested over £1 million of money seized from criminal activities back into our communities as part of that. 

“Our Safer Communities Fund is backing brilliant projects across the region that help make our local areas safer.

“If you have an idea for a project, we want to hear from you.”

Previously funded projects include:

• Bradford City FC Community Foundation, who are giving crime the whistle with their project providing sports programmes that teach crime awareness to young people.
• ‘In Your Corner’ is the brainchild of Northern Powerhouse Boxing, the first women-led boxing club in the UK. With over £7,800, they’re providing self-defence and confidence building workshops for women, girls, trans and non-binary people in Calderdale.
• 5 Towns Veterans are using a near £7,000 to provide mental health support to veterans and their families in Wakefield.
• In Leeds, Building Futures Together is providing opportunities to young people to build self-confidence, improve ambitions, and reduce anti-social behaviour, including teaching practical electrical and plumbing skills.
• Sky Positive Minds received funding to extend their mental health support with one-to-one coaching sessions for vulnerable women and girls from the South Asian community in Kirklees.

The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund is financed by money seized from criminal activities by West Yorkshire Police and prosecutors.

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins QPM DL, said:

“We really welcome this latest round of the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund.

“Our officers and staff work hard to ensure that criminals are not profiting from their activities.

“It is heartening to see that in this round of funding the money that has been taken from criminals is being invested into projects that support victims and witnesses.” 

This latest grant round is open until 12:00pm on 9^th June 2023. For more information about the fund, including how to apply, visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/mscf.

Lizzie Sanderson, Director of Operations from Bradford City FC Community Foundation said:

“As an established sporting organisation, we regularly host sports camps with children and young people, engaging with over 700 individuals per year and felt there was a missed opportunity to bring awareness to community issues that are currently affecting residents of Bradford.

“The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund has allowed us to tackle real life issues in the community such as anti-social behaviour and drug awareness through the power of sport, giving children and young people practical examples of the consequences of making poor decisions.

“We hope that other clubs can use the success of our project to grow awareness in their local areas, helping to become safer and stronger communities.”

John Thornton, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Building Futures Together said:

“Building Futures Together were awarded a grant from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund which will benefit young people.

“Money taken from criminal activities and given back to worthwhile projects is something the community want to see, and I would encourage anyone who is eligible to consider applying for their own worthwhile cause.”

Shaffia Khatun, co-founder of Sky Positive Minds, said:

“The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund has meant we could continue our one-to-one coaching support to some of society’s most hard to reach women and girls.

“The impact is significant as the strategies shared are powerful and offer instant relief to service users.”

A spokesperson from 5 Towns Veterans said:

“The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund has allowed the 5 Towns Veterans Support Hub CIC to run welfare sessions and veterans’ coffee mornings in a safe and warm environment.

“The fund has meant we can bring our veterans into a safe environment to deal with issues such as alcohol abuse, whilst their spouses also get the opportunity to discuss issues in some privacy.

“The fact that insurance, water and electricity bills are being covered, now means that we have been able to bring partner organisations into the Veterans Centre to provide additional support to our veterans and their families.”

Josie McNamara, General Manager of Northern Powerhouse Boxing said:

“The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund has enabled us to run two important programmes for our local community.

“Our self-protection programme is set up to help empower local young women to have greater confidence moving around their daily life, especially those who had been negatively impacted by the pandemic and the social skills and confidence that have been lost during this time.

“The second project is a Trans & Non Binary boxing classes which offers this community a space to exercise safely and connect. This class has provided an outlet and helped participants combat mental anguish, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. 

“Thanks to the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund for helping us reach such positive outcomes.”