Community Hub Boosted by Seized Criminal Funds

Commissioner Clive Grunshaw joined Rossendale and Darwen’s Member of Parliament Andy MacNae to visit La Latte Lounge Community Cafe in Rawtenstall, where a total of £15,000 has been invested through the Commissioner’s Community Fund to help create a safe, supportive space for women and girls.

The funding includes £10,000 from the Member of Parliament funding strand and a further £5,000 through the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) fund, both of which reinvest money confiscated from criminals back into Lancashire’s communities.

The project has allowed La Latte Lounge to create a dedicated community hub, providing a safe and welcoming space where women can access early support, build confidence, and receive guidance on issues including domestic abuse, mental health, and wellbeing.

The hub provides a range of support, including one-to-one conversations, wellbeing sessions, practical workshops, and clear pathways into specialist services. By offering a trusted and accessible space, the project aims to break down barriers that often prevent women from seeking help at an early stage.

During the visit, the Commissioner and MP met with staff and partners involved in delivering the project, and heard how the hub is already helping to tackle isolation, improve confidence, and provide vital support to those who need it most.

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said:

“I’m really pleased to see this fantastic project in action and to hear how funding taken from criminals is being used to make a real difference here in Rossendale.

“This is exactly what the Community Fund is about – supporting grassroots organisations that provide early intervention, help prevent harm, and make our communities safer.

“The team at La Latte Lounge have created a trusted space where women and others can feel comfortable seeking support, and that early engagement is absolutely vital in preventing issues from escalating.”

Andy MacNae MP for Rossendale and Darwen said:

“It’s been great to visit La Latte Lounge Community Cafe and see first-hand the positive impact this funding is having locally.

“I’m proud to have backed this initiative through the MP funding strand and to support work that strengthens community safety and wellbeing across Rossendale.”

The La Latte Lounge team also welcomed the support, highlighting the importance of having a dedicated space where women feel safe, supported, and able to access help without stigma or barriers.

Amanda Wilkinson from La Latte Lounge Community Cafe said:

“We created the CIC 2 years ago due to the community needing a trusted space to gather and connect.

“It provided a safe space where everyone and especially women felt comfortable visiting alone, we devised groups and sessions to help combat social isolation and depression and helped a large part of the community in accessing vital services and agencies they desperately needed.

“This last year we set up and started running basic DIY sessions for women of all ages in teaching them life skills around the home, what quickly became apart was the overwhelming need to connect women and girls in a safe environment where they could express themselves. The sessions are now a life line to a lot of women who attend and have attended the session.

“The funding has allowed us to open a dedicated space now for the community and to tackle violence against women and girls through the multiple groups and sessions within the space.

“I would like to thank all businesses and agencies we have worked with these last 2 years to help us bring together this special place for the people of Rossendale.”

The Community Fund uses money recovered from criminals to invest in local projects that reduce crime, prevent reoffending, and improve community safety across Lancashire.