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The People's Fund

The People’s Fund has £500,000 available for people who are delivering projects tackling serious violence in West Yorkshire.

Find out who can apply and how to get funding.

What is The People's Fund?

The People’s Fund to tackle serious violence is now open. It offers £500,000 to people across West Yorkshire who are delivering projects working to tackle serious violence.

Each district can receive up to £100,000. Local groups and organisations can apply for up to £10,000 each. Local residents will decide on the winning projects.

This initiative is part of Mayor Tracy Brabin’s effort to create a co-produced serious violence strategy for the region.

Who can apply?

Community groups, charities and partners working to reduce serious violence can apply for up to £10,000 each.

Projects may include education, prevention, awareness and improving community safety.

We especially encourage projects that tackle knife crime, violence against women and girls and gang exploitation. However, any project addressing serious violence will be considered.

Current recipients of the Mayors Safer Communities Fund can also apply.

Partnership bids are welcome. Up to three partners can request a total of £30,000.

Projects can cover multiple ward areas but must operate within one district only.

Each district has a total allocation of £100,000.

We also welcome projects supporting the build element of Clear, Hold, Build. This framework, developed by the Home Office, helps police tackle serious and organised crime. It aims to reclaim and rebuild areas affected by organised crime, making them safer and boosting public confidence in police and partners. The Mayor recognises that the Build element of this initiative directly supports safer communities.

Applications under Clear, Hold, Build are limited to projects in:

Bradford (BD3 only)
Calderdale (Park Ward)
Kirklees (Ashbrow only)
Leeds (Harehills only).

How can I apply?

Apply for The People's Fund

To apply, complete the expression of interest form by Friday 6 Feb 2026.

Complete the Expression Of Interest Form

How does the voting process work?

Your community will vote on projects. If invited, you must present your project in person at a You Decide Voting Event.

The five voting events are:

Bradford – Thursday 26th Feb
Calderdale – Tuesday 3rd March
Kirklees – Wednesday 4th March
Leeds – Thursday 12th March
Wakefield – Thursday 19th March

An online briefing will occur before the You Decide voting events.

Project delivery runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027.

Terms and conditions

1. Terms and conditions

2. Processing the grant

3. Use of the grant

You must use any grant given for the purposes detailed and agreed in your application. The grant must not be used for any other purpose without prior written consent from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority – Policing and Crime team. If any changes to your original application were to take place throughout your project, this must be approved first by the Engagement Manager. Please refer to point 3 for further information.

Grants are allocated for a maximum 12-month term only. The applicant will need to be contactable for the duration of the grant. Grants cannot be passed to other individuals or departments without prior approval.

The applicant named on the application form (Organisation and Contact Name) is solely responsible for the project throughout the grant period, including completing the evaluation forms upon project completion.

You must notify the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund Team if the person responsible for the project moves on/ leaves the organisation at the time the change takes place. The named applicant will be our point of contact to recover funding should the project not be delivered/ problems occur.

TPF does not allow monies to be passported or subcontracted to other organisations without declaring this in your original application form. Monies from the TP fund cannot be given out as cash prizes. Refreshments are not eligible to be covered by the fund and must not be misrepresented under a different budget head, further information is included in the Information Sheet document.

If you fail to comply with any of the conditions set out in the Terms and Conditions, we may require all or any part of the grant to be repaid. You must repay under this condition within 30 days of receiving the demand for repayment.

We may terminate this agreement immediately by serving a written notice on the recipient if:

the grant or any part of the grant is being used for any purpose other than the purpose set out in this Agreement
you have been involved in any illegal activity or improper act in your administration

4. Changes to the project specification

5. Accountability

6. Monitoring

7. Publicity

8. Repayment of the grant

9. Data collection and use

10. Special conditions

Frequently asked questions

What is The People’s Fund?

Where can a project be delivered?

What is the theme for the budget?

Who can apply?

How much can be applied for?

How much detail is required regarding the project?

What happens after the Expression of Interest is submitted?

What if there are any other concerns about the Expression of Interest or presentation process?

Get in touch

If you have any queries about the People's Fund or questions about making a bid please contact us via the details below. For a quicker response, please contact us via email.

Email: safercommunitiesfund.pc@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 011334 81740
Postal address:

Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Wellington House
40-50 Wellington Street
Leeds
LS1 2DE