Following on from the successful launch of the County Durham and Darlington Community Safety Fund in 2015, the second year of funding of £150,000 is now open and available for groups to apply.

Ron Hogg, Durham\’s Police and Crime Commissioner, has continued his partnership with us to deliver the Community Safety Fund. This funding is aimed at projects run by charities and community groups which work right at the core of local communities to help reduce crime, making people feel safer and more confident in the area in which they live.

Mr Hogg said: “Last year was the first year that County Durham Community Foundation managed the fund and it was a great success. We gave out grants to 21 groups, from initiatives that included running summer holiday clubs to help give a focus to communities who otherwise would have little direction, to programmes that significantly reduce the risk of re-offending by working with ex-offenders as they leave prison. Projects like these are fantastic schemes that make a huge difference in the local community and very much support the work that we do.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner has once again provided £100,000 of funding to the programme. This has been topped up by a further £50,000 from ourselves.

Hilary Jamieson, of Wheatley Hill Community Association was one of the groups who received funding last year for their Safely off the Streets initiative: “This programme has surpassed all expectations with almost 1200 people through the doors at the variety of activities we organised. We cannot speak highly enough of the Community Safety Fund as it enabled us to run a programme we would otherwise have struggled to fund. The benefits on local people of running activities throughout the year like these simply cannot be underestimated and are a vital part of successful communities.”

Barbara Gubbins, Chief Executive of County Durham Community Foundation said: “We are delighted that this partnership continues. There is a huge need across the County for groups that run initiatives based around safety and crime reduction, which ultimately lead to happier and more cohesive neighbourhoods. Last year we had huge interest in this fund with many applications and we expect the same again this year.”

Community groups and voluntary sector organisations will be able to apply for funding to help improve community safety and reduce crime, by visiting our website, www.cdcf.org.uk. Closing date for applications is Friday 15th April 2016.