Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire | WYPCC

PCC launches extra-ordinary £150,000 grant round to help support communities with the impact of COVID-19

14th April 2020

Projects working to safeguard vulnerable people and support their communities to deal with the fallout of Coronavirus are urged to apply to the West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) £150,000 extra ordinary grant round.

Since 2014, the Safer Communities Fund (SCF), which is made up from recovered proceeds of crime monies, has now distributed around £3m to nearly 700 projects across the county and now PCC Mark Burns-Williamson has launched an extra-ordinary grant round to support communities to help deal and cope with the fall out of COVID-19.

An Extraordinary grant round aimed at keeping communities safe launched today (TUE 14 APR) and closes 1 May, and is specifically for those projects and interventions which target domestic and sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, mental health, fraud and drugs/alcohol services.

Grants are for up to £6,000 for outcomes to be delivered over 6 months from a total pot of £150,000

The projects will have to be able to deliver during the lockdown/COVID-19 extended period and money will be paid quickly to successful applicants by the end of May.

Applications could include new or additional methods of help, support including online and telephone support, community based solutions, innovative ways to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour and providing resources which support communities to safeguard themselves and those they care about.

As this is an extra-ordinary grant round, projects who currently have funding through a recent Safer Communities Fund Grant Round and are already running a project or have postponed a project but feel that they could provide a service to help the response to COVID-19 are still able to apply to this grant round in addition to their current funding allocations.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: “My priority as PCC is to ensure vulnerable people and victims of crime have the ongoing support of the police and access to the vital services they need through this pandemic, many of which are commissioned through my office with key partners.

“Coronavirus has forced us all to work very differently and this presents a new opportunity to ensure we are making resources accessible to those that need them the most. Hopefully this extra funding I am making available will go some way to support key help and work during this difficult and unprecedented period.

“As a step further I want to ensure that all our communities are continuing to be supported throughout this time by projects and services that understand their needs in this ever changing time we are all having to adapt to. I want those who are feeling vulnerable and isolated to know we are here to help you, we will do our best to support you, and this is another way for us to achieve that.

“Those applying for funding will need to be able demonstrate how to deliver their new ways of working within the restrictions imposed during this COVID-19 period.

“I also want to take this opportunity again to say a huge thank you to all NHS staff, our police officers, staff and volunteers, shop workers and all other key workers carrying out crucial services in West Yorkshire and beyond at this critical time.

“They are working flat out, in many cases putting themselves in harm’s way, in order to keep us all safe, they deserve our support, respect and kindness. We will all get through this together, collectively, by supporting, helping and protecting one another. We all have a role to play and responsibility as individual citizens.”

The Safer Communities Fund is financed through money recovered from criminal activity by West Yorkshire Police, Prosecutors and brought together by the PCC and his office.

To apply please visit https://www.westyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/safer-communities-fund.