Helping to tackle local concerns and key priorities
This comes as 26 projects have been successful in gaining grants, with over £60,000 going towards community organisations who are helping make Lancashire a safer and better place.
By helping groups tackle local concerns and deliver the Commissioner’s key priorities in his Police and Crime Plan, the fund delivers an effective way of engaging people within their communities, through diversionary activity and targeted support amongst others.
With the funding reopening for applications, the Commissioner is keen to hear from groups who may be able to deliver schemes in innovative ways, mindful of the impact that COVID 19 has had, with social distancing likely to still be in place in some form for the foreseeable future.
Applications will need to reference expected outcomes of projects and how these will be measured.
He said: “The last few months have seen life here in Lancashire change, almost beyond recognition, for many people. We know that the work that my Community Action Fund supports, helping deliver my Police and Crime Pan priorities, is still something that is needed across the county.
“As my fund relaunches, I would like to call on all those groups that support our neighbourhoods and help build more confident, vibrant communities, to apply for support to help deliver those projects that are often the glue that brings people together and keep people safe.
“This can include diverting people from getting involved in Anti-Social Behaviour, to tackling grooming or bogus callers, mental health projects to support victims and vulnerable people or online programmes and activities to join communities together.
“Since launching the fund seven years ago, I have seen the wide range of fantastic ideas that have come forward and am sure that this bidding round will bring new and innovative projects and approaches.
“Time and again it’s clear the positive impact these small grants can have – they provide real value, make a big difference across Lancashire and will continue to do so in these difficult times.”
Organisations applying for the Community Action Fund are encouraged to join the Commissioners new social action network Our Lancashire, who are able to support them to grow and engage with new members. Launched in November 2019, Our Lancashire is now supporting over 1,000 community groups and organisations across the county and is fast becoming the one stop shop for groups and events.
Notes:
The Commissioner’s Community Action Fund is designed to provide small grants of up to £3,000 to assist groups in tackling local concerns and helping to deliver the priorities of his Police and Crime Plan in their area. Open to local groups and organisations with a constitution to apply, all applications will be considered within four weeks of them being received.
In 2019/20 the Community Action Fund received 61 applications with 34 grass root organisations being successful. A total of £80,675.10 was distributed to projects across Lancashire. The amount of funding provided during the year was affected by the COVID 19 pandemic which meant a number of grant awards had to be deferred until the financial year 2020/21.
The aim of the Fund is to support smaller organisations and community groups to deliver projects and improvements within their communities. It is estimated the 34 projects funded will directly work with over 3480 individuals across Lancashire including over 2190 young people. However, many more people across Lancashire will have been positively impacted both directly and indirectly for example projects that help develop safe and confident communities should improve public confidence.
