Preston community organisations are being urged to apply for funds to support projects that are helping to make the city a safer place.

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw has relaunched the Community Action Fund and is pushing for more to use the fund.

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Grants have already been awarded to 26 organisations from a fund of over £60,000 to make Lancashire a safer and better place.

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The aim of the fund is to support smaller organisations and community groups deliver projects and improvements within their communities.

In the relaunch, the commissioner has recognised that projects may need to be delivered differently during the COVID 19 pandemic.

He said: “The last few months have seen life here in Lancashire change, almost beyond recognition, for many people. We know that the work that my Community Action Fund supports – helping deliver my Police and Crime Pan priorities – is still something that is needed across the county.

“As my fund relaunches, I would like to call on all those groups that support our neighbourhoods and help build more confident, vibrant communities, to apply for support to help deliver those projects that are often the glue that brings people together and keep people safe.

“This can include diverting people from getting involved in Anti-Social Behaviour, to tackling grooming or bogus callers, mental health projects to support victims and vulnerable people or online programmes and activities to join communities together.”

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The fund delivers an effective way of engaging people within their communities, through diversionary activity and targeted support amongst others, by helping groups tackle local concerns and deliver the Commissioner’s key priorities in his Police and Crime Plan.

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With the funding reopening for applications, the Commissioner is keen to hear from groups who may be able to deliver schemes in innovative ways, mindful of the impact that COVID 19 has had, with social distancing likely to still be in place in some form for the foreseeable future.

“Since launching the fund seven years ago, I have seen the wide range of fantastic ideas that have come forward and am sure that this bidding round will bring new and innovative projects and approaches,” Mr Grunshaw added.

“Time and again it’s clear the positive impact these small grants can have – they provide real value, make a big difference across Lancashire and will continue to do so in these difficult times.”

See the latest crime reports and statistics for your neighbourhood below

Last year, the Community Action Fund received 61 applications with 34 grass root organisations being successful, resulting over £80,000 being distributed to projects across Lancashire.

The amount of funding provided during the year was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic which meant a number of grant awards had to be deferred until financial year 2020/21.

It is estimated the 34 projects funded will directly work with over 3480 individuals across Lancashire including over 2190 young people.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

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What other community projects would you like to receive a boost in funding? Let us know in the comments below.