Last week for groups to apply for PCC small grant
Groups wanting to apply for funding to Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg’s small grant scheme have until next weekend to complete applications.
Round two of the scheme, which will give around £100,000 to winning bids, closes on 31 May and a late surge of entries is expected. In round one 168 organisations applied.
Groups which plan to target reductions in alcohol related crime and harmful drinking will be the focus in round two, with 40% of the available fund ring fenced for such projects, but Mr Hogg has also said that he would welcome bids from groups which target rural crime.
Round one of the scheme saw 25 groups receive a total of £90,000 – one of which was Crimestoppers.
Working jointly with Devon and Cornwall Community Watch Association and the Police, Crimestoppers has used the £1,100 grant to produce a leaflet which will be circulated to every neighbourhood in Devon and Cornwall.
"The aim of this leaflet campaign is to increase the public's awareness of Crimestoppers and the anonymous reporting service that they provide," said Steve Pearce, local Crimestoppers chair.
"We believe that by publicising the 0800 555 111 telephone service and online reporting at www.crimestoppers-uk.org, this will increase the volume of calls to Crimestoppers which will ultimately lead to greater detection of offences and an increase in the number of offenders brought to justice.
"The grant from the commissioner has enabled us to have 10,000 promotional leaflets printed which will be circulated by our Neighbourhood Watch partners to every neighbourhood within Devon and Cornwall."
Julie Dowton, chair of DACCWA said: 'We already work very closely with Crimestoppers and are only too pleased to help by using our network of watch schemes throughout the two counties.
"The aims of both our organisations are very similar in that we seek to engage with the public and to provide them with a way of passing information to the police which in turn will benefit all of our communities."
Mr Hogg aims to take a regional lead to help partner organisations coordinate strategies to tackle alcohol issues across the peninsula and sees the small grant scheme as a chance to cement work already underway.
“I hope round two of the scheme will identify and promote initiatives that support the development and implementation of my alcohol plan,” said Mr Hogg.
“I want to see applications from groups that will invest in community based initiatives, to identify new ways of working, to help focus on those with complex needs and to support a ‘whole family’ approach.
“This focus is important because we know that a relatively small number of people who misuse alcohol cause a high percentage of crime.
“I hope it will help groups to work together to tackle harmful alcohol consumption and related offending while championing the adoption of recovery models across the peninsula.”
This second round of awards will be made in July 2014.
The scheme is only available to community and voluntary organisations that can show they undertake actions that have a positive impact helping people feel safer and reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.
It is unlikely the PCC will make awards to or for the following: Statutory services; individuals; expeditions or trips; replacement for statutory funding; bursaries or scholarships; projects outside of Devon and Cornwall; retrospective applications (for example for events that have already taken place); CCTV applications; conferences.
Any group wishing to fill in a last minute application can find out more information and download the application form from the OPCC website.
Anyone unable to download the application form should contact Ruth Eyles (small grants administrator) on: 01392 430228 or via email pccsmallgrantscheme@gmail.com
or by post to: PCC Small Grant Funding Administrator, c/o Community Housing Aid, Fore Street, Exeter Devon EX4 3AN
