Communities Share Cash Seized from Criminals

A total of 40 projects are sharing in the £156,951 awarded by Gwent PCC Ian Johnston from his Partnership Fund. The Partnership Fund grant scheme is funded by the proceeds of crime awarded to the police and from the sale of unclaimed found property (full list of awards at end of announcement).

A staggering 500 applications amounting to a total of £1.25million were submitted under the latest round (June 2014) from charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in Gwent involved in activities that have a positive impact on their communities.

Groups who applied for a share of the funding had to demonstrate the positive impact their project would have on their community whilst contributing to delivering the Commissioner's priorities for Gwent which include reducing and preventing crime; taking more effective action to reduce anti-social behaviour and protecting people from serious harm. Each group was able to apply for funding up to the region of £10,000.

Such was the volume and the impressive quality of the applications received, the Commissioner decided to increase the amount awarded under this round from £150,000 to nearly £157,000.

After much deliberation, the long wait is now over for the community groups vying for the money. Among the successful projects announced today is the Tillery Combat Mixed Martial Arts Academy based in the heart of Blaina town, Blaenau Gwent. Using sport, fitness, discipline and self-defence, the Tillery Combat MMA helps to divert the most disaffected and disengaged people in the community away from a life of crime and substance abuse. Whether it's those looking to compete, learn self-defence or just keep fit, the club train people in several martial arts disciplines. Their award of £5,000 will be used to kit out the gym with new equipment and also to cover the travels costs to and from local competitions for those who can't afford it.

The Eden Gate charity in Newport provides a safe, dry and warm place for people who may ordinarily be sleeping on the streets. They try to find them permanent accommodation and a chance to get off of the streets for good. By providing warmth and ensuring those people are fed and safe, it has been proven that they will not turn to crime and that levels of anti-social behaviour are reduced. In order to provide even more of a positive impact in the communities where they work, the Eden Gate project will now spend their award of £3,615 on new air beds, bedding and pumps to help even more rough sleepers in and around Newport.

The Lylac Ridge Animal Learning Centre in Risca, Caerphilly, provides animal assisted therapy and alternative education for children, young adults, adults with learning difficulties, those excluded from school and offenders. The charity provides opportunities for people to grow emotionally and learn through interaction with some of the centre's animals.

Lylac Ridge will spend their award of nearly £8,000 on a project to develop community land, educational signs and a picnic area. This will allow the community to become involved in a long term project which aims to give people a sense of ownership and reduce anti-social behaviour in the community. The project also aims to reduce and prevent crime by bringing young people back into the education system and keeping them off the streets.

Congratulating the projects on their success, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston, said: "I would like to congratulate all the projects funded today on their success. The competition was extremely tough and it's humbling that we received so many applications and to see how many projects genuinely need this money in Gwent. It's a shame that we couldn't fund even more. It shows there is a real need for my Partnership Fund and it is fitting to see money recovered from criminals going back to benefit local communities."

He added: "I would also like to give a special mention to our representative from Newport Positive Futures and the two young people from Blaenau Gwent Youth Forum who played an important role on the decision making panel."

In addition to the £157,000 awarded to projects from his Partnership Fund today, the Commissioner has also decided to refer a number of projects which submitted applications (amounting to nearly £100,000 in total) to his Strategic Commissioning Board for consideration. The projects have been referred in light of their strong focus on supporting victims and for their rehabilitative qualities. A further announcement on this additional funding will be made shortly.

 

List of funded projects: