Community projects in Gwent will be able to apply to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for a share of £150,000 in cash seized from criminals and from the sale of unclaimed found property.
Gwent PCC Ian Johnston announced his Partnership Fund is open for bids from charities, voluntary organisations and community groups involved in activities that have a positive impact on their communities.
He said: “It’s fitting to see money recovered from criminals going back to benefit local communities and many projects in Gwent have already made a positive difference to their communities thanks to this funding scheme.
“We recognise the vital role these projects can play in complementing the work of Gwent Police and other local partners in the community. My message is simple – if anyone has a great idea for a project which can make a positive difference to their community – we want to hear from them.”
Groups will be able to apply for funding up to and in the region of £10,000.
Previous successful applicants include Risca Street Pastors where a £3,000 grant helped fund an extra ten members.
For more infrmation about how to apply, visit www.gwent.pcc.police.uk or email pccpartnershipfund@gwent.pnn.police.uk.
Perhaps Ian Johnston will consider providing some of these funds for the issues of lack of meaningful facilities for Rough Sleepers in Caerphilly.
I do know, That the Commissioner provided funds during the winter months towards an initiative which provided shelter and hot food to rough sleepers in the borough, perhaps he could consider following up that initiative with money recovered from ` criminals`, for the `authorities` to accept their civic responsibilities to this `sub culture` community of street sleepers, the problem with this suggestion is that the Caerphilly council and their “Partners” would have to take up the initiative first, and, it appears from all inquiries I have made they ` don`t have the stomach for it, and if the will is not there amongst elected Councillors and Cabinet Members of Caerphilly council they will continue to ignore the issues, hoping, that the `instructions` they have given to Gwent Police to `move on` these rough sleepers, where to nobody knows?, will deal with it, but, it appears that the Caerphilly council and Gwent police at the behest of CCBC, intend to sanitise the streets of Caerphilly and displace these Caerphilly citizens to other areas of South Wales and Gwent.