Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund
This grant programme is open for applications.
- Opening Date:
- 20th April 2022 , 12:00 pm
- Closing Date:
- 27th May 2022 , 12:00 pm
- Maximum grant awarded:
- £5,000
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has set up the Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund to help create safer communities. It is run as a partnership between the OPCC, Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) and Quartet Community Foundation (QCF).
Groups can apply for a grant of between £1,000 to £5,000 to run a project:
- in a particular neighbourhood so that everyone benefits from reduced crime and antisocial behaviour, or
- for a specific group of people who are at higher risk of being the victims or perpetrators of crime and antisocial behaviour.
There are 3 opportunities to apply each year. The deadlines are Friday 27 May 2022, Friday 30 September, and Friday 24 February 2023.
Who can apply for this money?
You can only apply if you work or volunteer for a group that:
- is based in BANES, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, or South Gloucestershire
- is run by a committee or board of at least 3 unrelated people
- has a governing document or set of rules
- has an appropriate level of free reserves. If this is more than 12 months running costs, then you should have a policy explaining why
- has a safeguarding policy
- has a bank account in its name, which requires two unrelated signatories.
We welcome applications from groups that exist to support people in their local community. We can award money to groups that are not registered charities, but the purpose of the funding must be charitable. This means we can give a grant to:
- community groups
- registered charities
- community amateur sports clubs
- community interest companies (CIC) limited by guarantee that have a clear asset lock benefitting local communities
- companies limited by guarantee that are not-for-profit with all surpluses re-invested back into the organisation
- faith organisations, but not for the promotion of religion
- community benefit societies.
What can I use this money for?
You can use these grants for project costs that clearly relate to the aims of this fund.
This can include:
- people’s time to deliver the project
- a contribution towards people’s time to manage your group
travel - buying small items of equipment
- a contribution towards your group’s core running costs, like insurance and utilities.
These are just examples and there may be other things you need for your project that you can request from this fund.
What can’t I use this money for?
We can’t give money to:
- individuals, sole traders or companies limited by shares
- statutory organisations, like parish councils or schools, or for stuatory duties, like educational activities for pupils that take place during the school day
- activities that have already taken place or purchases that you have already made
- groups that give money to another group, rather than spend it on their own activities
- activities that are about animal welfare.
There are also two types of project where you will usually be better making an application to another funder:
- using sport to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour among young people under the age of 25. For this, please consider applying to the Crime Prevention Through Sport Fund. This is run by SASP in Somerset and Wesport in BANES, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
- road safety projects. For this, please consider applying to the Road Safety Fund. This is run by the Police Community Trust.
If either of these funds are closed when you want to make an application, then please contact us using the details below and we will discuss the best option.
How much money is available?
We have £200,000 to give out this year and expect to make about 50 grants in total.
This money will be distributed around the area covered by Avon & Somerset Police based on the number of people who live in each place. That means that approximately:
- £80,000 will be awarded to groups in Bristol
- £60,000 to groups in Somerset
- £20,000 each to groups in BANES, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Which groups are more likely to get some money?
We want to support a wide range of projects that help to prevent crime, as outlined in the Police and Crime Plan 2021 – 2025.
We’re interested in projects that help to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour:
- for everyone in a neighbourhood, or
- for specific groups of people who are at higher risk of becoming victims or perpetrators.
Here are some examples of things we are interested in funding. These are just examples, and you might have other ideas that we would be interested in hearing about:
- educational campaigns in schools or youth clubs that raise awareness of the dangers of criminal activity (e.g., county lines or drug use)
- interventions that promote positive behaviours, like sports or arts activities
- professional development so staff and volunteers can spot the signs of someone being at risk
- creating safer streets and green spaces by building a greater sense of ownership within the community
- counselling or other services for offenders
- restorative justice
- peer support or mental health interventions
- educating people to make them more resistant to crime (e.g. spotting online fraud).
Whatever you apply for, you must clearly explain why it is necessary and in what ways it aims to reduce crime.
How do I make an application?
You can apply for this money using our online application form via one of the links below.
If you would like to see what you have to do before you start filling in the online application form, then this word document includes all the questions.
By clicking the button below you’ll be taken to a registration page. Read the instructions and then enter your email address. We’ll email you a link to an online form. If you don’t see an email from us after a few minutes, then please check your spam folder.
You don’t have to complete the form in one go. Instead, you can complete some sections then click ‘save draft’ at the bottom of the page. Use the link in your email to return to the form at another time.
You also need to attach the following documents alongside your application:
- your governing document or set of rules
- your most recent accounts
- the names and addresses of the people who run your group, if it is not registered with the Charity Commission or Companies House
- your safeguarding policy
- a bank statement from within the last three months. This can be a scanned paper statement, or a copy downloaded from an online account. We need to see the bank name, your group’s name, the address where statements go, the account number and the sort code. You may redact transactions if needed.
Apart from the bank statement, please do not provide the above documents if you have sent them to us within the past six months unless they have been amended during that time.
Finally, you must read the terms and conditions and click ‘submit’.
Please contact us if you can’t use the online form, or you are unable to attach any of the documents. We’ll support you to make your application in another way.
You must submit your application by the deadline, including all supporting documents. If you cannot attach your supporting documents, then these can by submitted separately using the contact details on the application form. However, they must reach us by the deadline.
What happens to your application?
Every application we receive by the deadline will be looked at by either SCF or QCF. If you meet the criteria and have supplied all the supporting documents, then we’ll read your application and make a recommendation to the grants panel.
The grants panel will include people from the OPCC and from the two Community Foundations.
We’re more likely to recommend a grant to the panel if you:
- clearly explain what you’ll do with the money, how this will help to prevent crime, and whether this represents good value for money
- work in an area with higher rates of crime and antisocial behaviour, or with a group who are clearly at higher risk of becoming the victims or perpetrators of crime
- have reported back well on any previous grants we have given you
- have not received any money from this fund in the last 12 months.
Need help?
If you are based in Bristol, BANES, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire and need some help then you should contact Luke Boulton, who works for Quartet Community Foundation. It’s usually best to email him here to ask a question or to arrange a time to talk.
If you are based in Somerset and need some help then you should contact Andy Ridgewell, who works for Somerset Community Foundation. It’s usually best to email him here to ask a question or to arrange a time to talk.
Ready to apply?
If you are based in Bristol, BANES, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire then please apply here
If you are based in Somerset then please apply here