Twenty community projects based across Caerphilly County Borough have been awarded almost £51,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.
The money is a share of around £220,000 of cash seized from criminals and proceeds from the sale of unclaimed found property.
Nearly 170 applications were submitted in the latest round of funding, from charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in the Gwent force area. In total, 90 projects have benefited.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent Jeff Cuthbert said: “This money will have a real positive impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and will offer opportunities for people who are disaffected or disengaged.
“Some of the projects will use their awards to repair the damage which has been caused by criminal activity and it’s fantastic to see the ill-gotten gains of criminals being put back into the hands of the law-abiding majority here in Gwent.
“My Partnership Fund allows people to do what they think is best for their community – which is exactly how things should be.”
Among the beneficiaries in Caerphilly County Borough is GoConnect, based at Welsh ICE on Caerphilly Business Park, which runs workshops for youngsters.
The not-for-profit organisation was awarded £8,400.
Director Alun Prosser said the money would go to running a series of such workshops based around construction, technological, and environmental skills and thanked the PCC for the award.
He said: “The workshops will improve the skills, experience and confidence of people and will also be accredited with participants gaining recognised qualifications.”
Senghenydd Youth Drop-in Centre (SYDIC) was handed £9,640.
Project Manager Dave Brunton said: “This funding will establish a pilot project with young people from the area who are in danger of disengagement, who are likely to become involved in nuisance and antisocial behaviour, or being drawn into criminal activity.
“SYDIC would like to thank the Gwent PCC and his office for the commitment, support and partnership they have shown to date for SYDIC and its ongoing work, especially at a time when it is increasingly difficult to secure funding for voluntary sector community services.”
Other projects to benefit in Caerphilly County Borough are: Abertysswg Aces Girls FC (£1,500); Follow Your Dreams (£2,500); Arts Council of Wales (£1,000); 1st Llanbradach Girls Brigade (£500); 1st Machen Brownies (£500); 1st Pontywaun Scouts (£500); 5th Risca Scout Group (£1,000); Aber Valley YMCA (£1,500); Caerphilly Churches Night Shelter (£1,560); GAVO (£5,000); Lewis School Pengam (£2,900); Machen Junior Rugby Club (£600); Nelson RFC (£1,500); Pontymister Youth (£910); RecRock (£1,000); Senghenydd Cricket Club (£1,000); Shelter Cymru (£8,975); Tabernacle High Five Youth Club (£500).
This is all very well but why do the small organisations that rely on volunteers and could really do with a decent amount of money to make a big difference only get a tiny amount, and the big organisations who pay their staff handsomely and are constantly and generously funded from one source or another always get the largest amount of money.