Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner launches £150k Community Fund

People across Chester can now take positive action to help make their communities safer by accessing a new funding pot, thanks to Dan Price the Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner.

The community fund is the largest the PCC has made available and will empower communities to bring their good ideas to life.

The SWAP Fund - Safety, Working Together, Action and Prevention – comes from the Proceeds of Crime Act; money that has been actively seized or recuperated from criminals operating within the county. It takes money that was earned or acquired in a negative way and swaps it for a positive community change.

Anyone can apply for between £1k and £5k from the fund. It’s aimed at volunteer groups and not-for-profit organisations. It's simple to apply online and decisions will be made within weeks.

Community funds have been available from the PCC office in previous years, but this year the SWAP fund is 50% larger and more flexible. Dan has also removed the requirement for all funds to be matched – communities can pledge volunteer hours instead.

Dan Price, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said:

“Residents often know best when it comes to what their communities need to feel safer – that's what the SWAP Fund is all about.

“I know from talking to so many residents across Chester that there are some great ideas that could make a real difference. The SWAP fund is there to help bring those ideas to life. We have so many committed community champions in Chester. I can’t wait to read some of these applications, visit some of these initiatives and see the positive impact this funding will have.”

Rage Fitness applied for funding to help tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce re-offending in their local community.

Craig Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Rage Fitness said:

“The PCC funded the Rage Fitness Prevention and Well-Being program. We supported over 50 young people to improve physically and mentally. But our aims were clear. This work had to reduce anti-social behaviour, tackle addiction issues and reduce re-offending in our community.

“The impact the well-being program had on the young people is profound. The positive feedback we’ve had and the statistics we’ve received showing a decrease in anti-social behaviour has demonstrated the impact of the project.

“I would encourage people to apply for the PCC’s fund, as community projects across the board can make a huge impact. Empowering people to look after themselves, ultimately helps our communities.”

The PCC wants to fund projects which focus on one of his priorities. He would like to fund innovative ideas which address one of the following:

• Improve community safety
• Reduce offending and reoffending
• Supporting victims of crime
• Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
• Youth engagement projects
• Crime prevention and early intervention

More information about the fund and application form is available from: 

www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk

About the role of the Police & Crime Commissioner

Public accountability for the delivery and performance of the police service is placed into the hands of the Commissioner on behalf of the electorate.

The Commissioner has wider responsibilities than those relating solely to the police force, including:

• The ability to provide or commission services intended to help victims and witnesses of crime and anti-social behaviour.
• The ability to provide or commission services that will secure, or contribute to securing, crime and disorder reduction.
• The ability to bring together Community Safety Partnerships at the force level.
• A duty to ensure that all collaboration agreements with other Commissioners and forces deliver value for money or enhance the effectiveness of policing capabilities and resilience.
• A wider responsibility for the enhancement of the delivery of criminal justice in their area.

Pictured - Dan Price, Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner.