Chance to bid for share of five million pounds

Voluntary groups across St.Helens are being encouraged to bid for a share of a new £5-million national fund to help tackle crime and anti social behaviour.

The 'community action against crime: innovation fund' is now open for and is worth  £5 million in 2011/12, with a further £5 million set aside for 2012/13.

The fund will be used to encourage greater community activism, and to enable communities to develop innovative approaches to tackling the local crime issues that matter to them.

The government are particularly keen for the fund to be made available to grass roots community activists who are not traditional recipients of government grants.

They also want the fund to encourage effective partnerships to get everybody working together to tackle crime. The fund will be used to encourage voluntary and community groups to work with their community safety partnership to tackle local crime problems, including through co-design and co-delivery of initiatives to cut crime.

They will also look to support projects that successfully get local businesses involved, whether through match-funding, or direct participation in the project itself.

To aid potential applicants, all applications must show that they:
- are innovative
- deliver lasting benefit
- have involved local communities
- tackle crime issues that matter to the local community, with a particular focus on anti-social behaviour, crime in local neighbourhoods, substance misuse, re-offending, violence against women and girls, and youth crime.

There are separate application forms and guidance notes for bids of small grants - £1,000-£15,000 and for large grants - £15,000 to £50,000. 

The application process is now open, and bids for this year are invited until 1 December 2011.

You can apply using the forms and guidance on the on the Community Development Foundation website.

If you require further advice or assistance, please contact Lynn Clarke, Neighbourhood Initiatives Manager, on 01744 673369, or Peter Mallet, Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator, St. Helens Council on 01744  673021.