Organisations across Merseyside are being invited to apply for a share of £100,000 which has been seized from criminals to run projects focused on bringing communities together in the wake of the violent disorder on our streets.
Using assets recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, and following the recent shameful scenes of violence and disorder in the region, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and Merseyside Police have decided to focus the next round of funding on projects which are focused on preventing crime by improving community integration and cohesion and tackling hate crime.
Grassroots organisations, charities and voluntary groups can bid for grants of up to £5,000 to fund projects which promote diversity, equality and inclusion and are designed to foster greater understanding between different communities.
About the Community Cashback Fund:
Applications for funding must demonstrate how they will contribute to key themes that support policing activity and the force priorities.
Funding for 2024 will be awarded targeted to the theme of Promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Projects should contribute to the prevention of crime.
For example, this can be through the promotion of community cohesion, by providing a sense of purpose and community to service users that diverts them away from negative behaviours; by educating service users and the community on the impact of crime and providing intervention for those at risk of becoming involved in such activity.
Projects should focus on:
- Primary Prevention (situational and social prevention), i.e. is directed at stopping a problem before it happens. This involves reducing to opportunities for crime, reducing risk, and strengthening community and social structures.
And/Or
- Secondary Prevention i.e. seeks to change people, typically those at high risk of embarking upon a criminal career. The focus can be on rapid/effective early interventions (e.g. youth programmes) and/or high-risk neighbourhoods.
Some examples of the types of work that can be funded include:
- Community integration and cohesion delivery focused on fostering understanding between different communities, particularly between communities of a different ethnic background, or different faith (or no faith), or between communities and migrants.
- Programmes for adults or young people which seek to challenge and change potential negative/harmful attitudes and behaviours towards other people of a different ethnic background, or sexuality/identity, or who are living with a disability.
- Intervention for men/young men to change potential negative/harmful attitudes and behaviours towards girls/women.
- Activities that seek to prevent and raise awareness about the impact of hate crime.
- Social action projects that seek to raise awareness and address issues affecting historically marginalised people and their rights.
- LGBTQ+ inclusion and pride delivery to help people to feel safe in their communities.
- Raising awareness to prevent exploitation or ‘mate crime’ committed against people with learning differences or people living with disability.
- Advice and information that allows people at risk of discrimination to know their rights.
How to apply?
The fund is being managed by the Community Foundation for Merseyside with applications set to close at 5pm on Monday 14th October.
Please visit the Community Foundation for Merseyside’s website and complete an online application form (available on the fund page for this grant programme).
Once you have submitted the online application, you will need to send the documents requested. You can attach the documents to your online application, or email them to [email protected].