NORTHUMBRIA Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, is putting a call-out to communities to apply for funding to support safe spaces, promote good relations in neighbourhoods and to nurture a sense of belonging for all in the Northumbria area.
Through her newly formed Commissioner’s Community Fund, PCC Dungworth is making £100k available to build on work that supports safer streets and stronger communities, following the civil disorder seen in the summer months.
The fund has been designed to empower local people and give communities affected by hate crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) a helping hand to cope and recover from recent experiences. It is also looking to support projects and initiatives that are determined to educate people and stamp our racism and hateful behaviours for good.
Micro grants of £1K and larger grants of £5K are to be made available to fund a range of projects including those that tackle hate crime or divert people away from anti-social behaviours. Susan is particularly interested in projects that will encourage the reporting of hate crimes or that will help engage and educate various groups.
The fund is being launched to coincide with National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW) 2024 which has a theme of bringing people together to advocate against all forms of hate crime, emphasizing unity and community safety.
Schools, community, charity, social enterprise or voluntary groups are all invited to bid for funding to support projects which focus on:
1. Repairing the damage caused by hate crime and work to improve community cohesion.
2. Preventing and reducing youth or adult ASB including the provision of diversionary activities.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said:
“Following the civil unrest of the summer, there was an incredible sense of coming together to stand up to hate across the North East and I want to build on this with a fund specifically designed to support and strengthen all our communities. I’m looking for anything that specifically brings people together from different backgrounds and ethnicities and that helps foster a wider sense of community and belonging for everyone.
“I want to hear from groups that offer activities that support integration, promote shared interests and celebrate the culture, heritage and diversity of the area. The more we do stand up to hate and call out racism the better. I look forward to seeing fresh schemes and initiatives rolled out in our communities to help make our streets safer and our communities stronger.”
Kumareswardas Ramanathan, who works with young people in Sunderland, has welcomed news of the fund. He said:
“Our diverse communities demonstrated resilience and a sense of solidarity in face of adversity and hostility during the civil unrest in the summer and we are working with our partners to repair the damage to community relations and harmonious relations amongst different communities that we have enjoyed over many years. I very much welcome the launch of the Commissioners Community Fund which will give our diverse communities the opportunity to offer activities that celebrate our rich cultures and foster good relations between different groups. I am grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner for her commitment to making our streets safer and our communities stronger.”
The fund is aimed at local grassroots organisations, projects and schools that strive to make their community a better place, combat hate crime in response to civil unrest and reduce ASB through diversionary activities and projects
For further details and to apply visit https://northumbria-pcc.gov.uk/your-priorities/police-crime-plan/improving-lives/commissioners-community-fund-24-25/
The closing date for applications is the 22nd November.
