PCC announces over £53k in grants to support victims and reduce crime in the county

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner has announced the successful recipients of the latest wave of his PCC Fund grants. Four local organisations will share over £53k to fund various projects which contribute to reducing crime and disorder in the county or help victims or witnesses.

Tim Passmore said, “Commissioning services to prevent crime, support victims and the work of the Constabulary is an important element of my role as Police and Crime Commissioner.

“I am absolutely delighted to be able to support these local organisations in their valuable work. We rely very heavily on the support of voluntary and community organisations and we are indebted to them for their commitment and enthusiasm.

“I truly believe that without the support of organisations such as these Suffolk would be a much poorer society.”

Aspire Black Suffolk was awarded £12,500 to support a mentoring programme in schools for 100 boys aged 11 – 16 years to divert them from being drawn into criminal activity outside of the school setting. The project will focus on students identified as having challenging behaviour, who are in isolation or at risk of exclusion. They will be supported to stay in school to develop life skills and with career opportunities following completion of the 38-week programme.

A project aimed at deterring children from being drawn into county lines activities and grooming received £700 from the PCC Fund. Be Me Like We, based in Ipswich, works with primary school aged children to promote an understanding of good citizenship, crime prevention and effective decision-making to avoid involvement in ASB and encounters with the criminal justice system. The funding will support 26 Black and Mixed Heritage children aged 5 – 11.

A £20k grant towards ‘Project Oak’ will enable the Monkey Workshops to expand its mentoring project for vulnerable young people aged 11 – 16 years. The funding will see a doubling their offer of five workshops and at a second site supporting 200 young people per week. The project, which teaches basic carpentry skills, supports students from SEN schools and pupil referral units in the Bury St Edmunds area.

Suffolk Mind received just shy of £20k to support victims of crime in the county through support groups, an anxiety management course and counselling sessions. The project’s aim is to support its participants to improve their mental health and improve and maintain their wellbeing through mentoring and shared experiences. The funding will support around 91 victims of crime aged 26 – 65 years.

PCC Grants of between £2,500 and £20,000 are available to support the work of voluntary and community groups, charities, social enterprises and community interest companies that are delivering services that help support victims of crime and reduce crime and disorder. The fund is open four times a year. For more information and details on how to apply please visit the ‘Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund’ page on the Suffolk Community Foundation website.

A key part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s role is to commission services that support the Constabulary in its work, and/or reduce demand.

The Grant panel, which considers applications, includes a representative of the PCC’s executive team, a representative from Suffolk Community Foundation and Chairs of the local Community Safety Partnerships. The Panel is chaired by the PCC who is responsible for final determination of each award.