Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach today unveiled a new £250,000 grant scheme offering local organisations a financial lifeline in their work to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.

To mark his first anniversary as PCC, the Commissioner outlined details of a new Prevention Fund which is designed to help voluntary and third sector groups support the public safety goals in his Police and Crime Plan and confront pressing community issues.

Grants of up to £25,000 are available in 2017-18 for organisations whose projects successfully address the PCC’s crime priority areas which include hate crime, domestic violence and abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), drug and alcohol-related problems, sexual violence and mental health. A further £250,000 is available in 2018-19.

Grants will be allocated in a two-tiered system of up to £9,999pa and £10,000-£25,000pa. Funding grants for projects of £10,000 and above will only be awarded for exceptional projects.

Launching the fund, Willy Bach said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for community-based groups to apply for crucial funding which will support their efforts to promote public safety and help people make lifelong changes to their lifestyles.

“Prevention is a key theme of my Police and Crime Plan and I’m well aware of the value ground-based projects play in helping people to overcome their problems. Investing in practical, early intervention will not only reduce demand on frontline police services it will ultimately drive down crime in the long-term.

“Public funding is scarce and I hope those organisations which share my vision for a safer Leicestershire apply for a slice of this precious investment to kick start their community safety efforts in 2017-18.”

Grants are available for new initiatives, existing successful projects where funding is tight or to enable existing projects to develop further.

The funding is available all year and there is no deadline for applications. However, the PCC has the right at his discretion to close the programme at any point dependant on the continued availability of funding.

Each application will be reviewed and evaluated by the Commissioner.

Interested parties must first complete an eligibility statement and, if successful, applicants can then move on to complete an application form.

Both the eligibility statement and the application form should be submitted by email to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Successful applicants will be notified within 90 days of submitting an application.

The Commissioner will require ongoing performance and financial monitoring to ensure successful projects meet the goals outlined in the application and agreed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

For more details and to apply, visit www.leics.pcc.police.uk/funding-2017-18.

The concept of the Crime Prevention Fund was first revealed by the Commissioner in March this year when he promised to provide further details in time for his first anniversary.