Last month the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Waheed Saleem announced the successful bids from the first round of the Fund and is now opening the second round of funding.
There is £87,000 available in this round of funding and organisations can submit bids up to £5,000
The Community Initiative’s Fund was launched in May to support organisations who offer support to the community during the COVID-19 crisis, for example vulnerable, homeless and elderly people who have become extremely isolated and in need of support and help following the lockdown.
The Police and Crime Commissioner is committed to supporting people through the COVID-19 crisis and is encouraging organisations who support the most vulnerable in society to apply.
This funding comes from items seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Each year, the Police and Crime Commissioner invites local community groups to bid for a grant from the fund. The money must go to community projects and cannot be spent on recruiting officers. The Community Initiatives Fund temporarily replaces the Active Citizens Fund.
Projects based in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton can bid for funding. The number and quality of applications in Dudley and Coventry has meant their funding has all been allocated in the first round.
Deputy West Midlands Police and Crime
Commissioner Waheed Saleem, said: “The
Community Initiatives Fund has been a success with 32 organisations being
funded from across the West Midlands who are actively supporting their local
community through this crisis.
“Through neighbourhood policing, I want to
encourage and support community initiatives and networks that are enterprising.
I want to hear from people about how they now provide new solutions to reach
the vulnerable, how they protect them from threats and harm and to help them
thrive despite the current restrictions. I also want to know how we can support
them.
“Over the past three months
we have seen communities really come together to support each other through
this difficult time and I am pleased that we have been able to provide
assistance to some of these projects”.
Chief Superintendent Sally Bourner said: “This
is an excellent opportunity for neighbourhood policing to be able to support
the community at a grass roots level.
“It will be our job to make sure citizens are made fully aware of the funding available and to engage with them through digital networks, social media and direct established community contacts to help people and groups apply for the funding”.
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