Projects and initiatives which help to prevent and deter crime and anti-social behaviour or make a contribution to road safety in Warwickshire are being invited to bid for a slice of grant funding by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe.

The commissioner's grants scheme is an annual award offered by Mr Seccombe which seeks to support initiatives which support his overall aims of reducing crime, supporting victims and making communities safer.

For the 2024/25 grants awards, organisations across the county are being invited to apply for funding of up to £15,000 for projects or initiatives which support the police and crime plan's objectives and have the overarching themes of:

Prevention: Targeting the causes of criminality and/or anti-social behaviour in our communities and on our roads, seeking to break the generational cycle of offending to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

and/or

Diversion: Supporting individuals who have already begun a journey of perpetrating crime and/or anti-social behaviour in our communities or on our roads, but who, armed with the right knowledge, understanding and commitment, can be diverted from this path towards a brighter future.

Opening the application process, Mr Seccombe said: "My grants fund is a vital way of supporting initiatives which help to support my ambition to reduce crime, support victims and make communities safer.

"This year I was able to award just under £300,000 of funding to a wide range of projects and I hope to be able to do similar again for 2024/25.

"By using the theme of prevention and diversion, I hope to see applications from a wide range of community groups, charities and other organisations with innovative projects that can make a real difference to communities and victims of crime, as well as those that prevent offences from happening in the first place.

"I also want to see applications being put forward that can make a real difference in making our roads safer, helping reduce death and serious injuries.

"I'm urging anyone who thinks they have a suitable project that can benefit from funding up to £15,000 to go online and apply before the November 10 deadline."

Projects funded by the PCC's office under the grants scheme must be delivered within the 2024/25 financial year. Organisations can submit up to two bids for funding, with each application evaluated separately on its own merits.

The closing date for applications is midnight on November 10, 2023. 

For full details about the commissioner's grants scheme and how to apply, visit the website.