PCC releases ₤45,000 to help young people make right choices

COMMUNITY groups which work to divert young people away from crime and anti social behaviour are being given the chance to bid for grants for projects running during the autumn half-term, thanks to Merseyside's Police Commissioner. Jane Kennedy has confirmed that she is once again releasing a round of funding from the Police Property Act Fund (PPA), which allows money raised from the sale of unclaimed stolen goods or property recovered by the police to be used for good causes. It is the eighth time the Commissioner has invited community organisations, charities and groups to apply for a vital cash boost of up to ₤5,000 grants for grassroots initiatives which are working to help young people to make the right choices. A total of ₤45,000 is available from the fund for 1 off grants for organisations which are committed to improving community safety, reducing crime or supporting victims.  Jane has already awarded nearly ₤288,000 through the PPA to organisations that are making a difference in their communities. Since July 2015, the fund has been used to concentrate on youth engagement initiatives.

The Commissioner said:- "I am pleased to once again open up the Police Property Act Fund for bids of up to ₤5,000 to organisations which are working to make their communities safer and better places to live by engaging with young people. Many communities across Merseyside traditionally see a rise in criminal and anti social behaviour during the autumn half-term, particularly around Bonfire and Mischief Night. Historically, it is also a particularly busy time for the Police and the Fire Service. Through these grants, I want to help alleviate these issues and prevent local young people from making mistakes they may regret in the future. Once a young person gets a criminal record it can blight their future prospects. If we can prevent them from making mistakes at a young age we can look forward to their positive contribution to their neighbourhoods. I want to see these grants used to support projects that complement the excellent diversionary work carried out by Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, ensuring that young people can enjoy the autumn festivities in a safe and enjoyable way which is properly supervised."

in 2016, more than 12,000 young people were able to join organised activities run through 22 different initiatives funded through the PPA over the Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations.  Jane added:- "Local people know their communities best. They know what works when engaging with their young people and I am looking forward to reviewing their ideas and initiatives for ensuring everyone can have a safe and fun Halloween."

The PPA fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, (CFM) on behalf of the Commissioner. CFM holds funds from individuals and organisations as donors who wish to support deserving causes in Merseyside.  All applications must be submitted online via the Community Foundation for Merseyside, by 5pm, Monday, 21 August 2017. Please visit their website to apply.