Applications are being accepted by Merseyside Police from community groups, charities, and organisations for a portion of the £25,000 in funding that was made possible by money taken from offenders.
Community groups that operate in the Liverpool 8 postcode or plan to use the funding within this area are eligible to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to carry out a youth engagement and intervention project starting today, Friday, January 26.
Funds seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act have made the funding available.
At the Unity Youth & Community Center’s Make L8 Great participatory budget event on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, bidders will have to present their ideas to the community.
The goal of “Make L8 Great,” which is launching in conjunction with Neighbourhood Policing Week, which takes place from January 22–28, is to showcase some of the partnership work and initiatives that Local Policing teams carry out throughout the year and how they are improving the areas in Merseyside where people live, work, and visit.
Inspector Jemma Shaw, from the local policing team said:
“This £25,000 funding will hopefully enable local groups and organisations to deliver a youth-led project or event in the Liverpool 8 area which makes a real difference and demonstrates that the community is stronger together.
“This is a great opportunity for any voluntary or grassroots organisation to benefit from a funding boost. The money can be used to develop existing projects or start something new.
“Whether you are a community centre, sports club, mentoring service, or outreach programme, we want to hear from you. This initiative takes cash out of the pockets of criminals and puts it back into local communities, which is where it belongs.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:
“Liverpool 8 is known for being an area of Merseyside which is rich in diversity and creativity with local groups, charities, and organisations at the beating heart of those communities.
“We want to do all we can to help support and strengthen these initiatives, increasing opportunities for the young people that live there and, in doing so, create safer, stronger places to live, work and play.
“By taking the money out of the pockets of criminals and putting it back where it belongs, we are preventing those who seek to inflict misery on our communities from benefitting financially from their illegal activities, while allowing us to channel funding towards the areas that need it most, creating positivity and enhancing the vital work these brilliant third sector organisations are doing.
“I would encourage all local groups to apply for a share of this funding, so we can continue to work together to make our communities better places for all in the months and years to come.”
Applicants for the fund may be from community or voluntary organisations based in Liverpool 8, or they may want to use the money to help those in the area.
Funding applications must all show how they will contribute to the important goal of youth engagement and intervention.
Applications are now open (Friday 26 January), and groups can apply for a maximum of £5,000. To obtain the application criteria, request an application form, or receive further information, email L8.PB.Event@merseyside.police.uk
The closing date for entries is 4pm on Friday 23 February 2024. Successful applicants will be announced at the Make L8 Great event at Unity Youth & Community Centre on Wednesday 13 March 2024.
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