More than half a million pounds awarded to projects in West Yorkshire

12 September 2024

More than half a million pounds awarded to projects making West Yorkshire safer 

More than half a million pounds seized from criminals has been awarded to a range of organisations working to make West Yorkshire communities safer.  

The funds, which were handed out by the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin at an event held in Dewsbury Minster last night (Wednesday, September 11th), will support 68 projects across all of the region’s five districts.  

Amongst the grant recipients was Focus4Hope, a Calderdale-based organisation that supports vulnerable people and those in need across West Yorkshire. The Mayor’s funding will allow them to provide additional support for women and children feeling domestic abuse. 

Louise Reed, the founder and CEO of Focus4Hope, said:

“This money will help us to support women and families who have fled difficult and violent situations. It will help them re-build their life and begin their journey in their new home. 

“We are so thankful to receive funding from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund to help us continue our work supporting the most vulnerable in Calderdale.” 

The latest round of the Mayor’s Safer Community Fund, which uses cash and assets seized from criminals by police and prosecutors under the Proceeds of Crime Act, saw groups and organisations awarded grants of up to £10,000 from a total pot of up to £581,541.  

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

"It is humbling to be able to support so many fantastic organisations working to make our region a safer, fairer place.  

“The reason we choose to reinvest this money taken from criminals is the huge difference these projects can make to the lives of people they support in our communities.  

“I look forward to visiting more of these organisations over the coming year to find out more about their work and want to thank West Yorkshire Police once again for helping to make the fund possible.” 

The money is made available largely thanks to the efforts of the force’s Economic Crime Unit, which is responsible for tracking down criminal ill-gotten gains through offences such as fraud and drug dealing.  

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins QPM DL, said:

“Our officers and staff work hard to reduce crime across West Yorkshire and seizing assets from convicted criminals is a way of making them realise that crime does not pay.   

“I am always delighted to see these ill-gotten gains being put back into our communities to make them safer places, and would encourage local groups and projects to apply for this funding which can help to bring their plans to fruition.” 

Since its inception in 2021, the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund has handed out a total of £3.04m to 357 local projects. 

The fund’s next grant round is due to open on November 11th. For more information, visit https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/policing-and-crime/mayor-s-safer-communities-fund/  

The 68 funded projects include Show Racism the Red Card in Kirklees, the Pudsey Community Project in Leeds and St George’s Lupset in Wakefield.  

Show Racism the Red Card is an anti-racism charity. The MSCF funding will allow them to deliver an anti-racism project in five across Huddersfield.  

Keziah Major, the North West Manager or Show Racism the Red Card, said:

“At Show Racism the Red Card, we believe that early intervention and education is key to tackling hate crime and racism.   

“Thanks to the funding from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, we will be able to work with more than 500 young people in schools across Huddersfield, working with them to educate them on the devastating impact of racism and appreciate the diversity our wonderful region has.” 

The Pudsey Community Project supports people in west Leeds and offers a range of services including food aid support, a children’s clothes reuse scheme and much more. 

Director of the Pudsey Community Project, Richard Dimery, said:

“Pudsey Community Project exists to transform Pudsey and its surrounding areas, with and for the local community, especially those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged.  

“We are thrilled to be receiving funding from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund to help us bring together our youth provision with a new programme for mentoring year 6 and high school students to prevent them being led into antisocial behaviour or complex mental health problems.  

“We will be training and supporting volunteers to support some of the fantastic young people in our community and the funding we have been given from WYCA and the Police simply makes this new scheme a reality.” 

St George’s Lupset is a community centre based in Wakefield. Its Spokes project supports local youth to repair and maintain bikes, hoping to encourage them to use bikes as an accessible method of transport and support their mental and physical wellbeing. 

Berni O’Brien, CEO, St George’s Lupset, said:

“We’re delighted to receive funding for this project from the Mayor’s Safe Communities Fund.  

“St George’s are proud work alongside our partners and local people to build a safer future for our communities."  

Sorted Church delivers youth activities across Ravenescliffe and Thrope-Edge in Bradford. Last year, it supported 420 young people and young adults.

Reverand Canon Tracy Milne, Director of Sorted Church, said:

"We are delighted to receive support from the Mayor's Safer Communities Fund. The monies will enable us to develop our Wellbeing Programme for those aged 11 to 25. This support could not have come at a better time, with growing challenges around mental health and an increasingly difficult context from which to raise funds.  

“As a result of this funding, local people will have access to a safe space to access support, engage in positive activities, meet with friends, and enjoy diverse opportunities to keep active and learn new skills.

"Our programme will provide early intervention and prevention, helping local people to build resilience, develop healthy relationships and contribute positively to community life.

"Youth work during times of high ASB and street crime will help young people to make more positive choices, they will be less likely to engage in risky behaviours and we recognise that the wider community will benefit as a result."   

The Bradford LGBTQ+ Strategic Partnership aims to promote equality and diversity and to eliminate homophobia and discrimination in relation to LGBTQ+ people in West Yorkshire.

Becky Hutchinson, CEO of Equity Partnership, said:

"Our charity supports the LGBT+ community in Bradford and works to promote equality and diversity.

“The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund will allow us to run a series of self-defence classes for our community, which is something that has been requested by our members.

“Self-defence training increases awareness of one’s surroundings and potential threats, teaching strategies to de-escalate situations and avoid danger. This preparedness can be life-saving in critical moments.”