Groups benefit from PCC’s small grant scheme

Projects targeting the harm caused by alcohol abuse have been the big winners in round two of Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg’s small grant scheme.

Mr Hogg chose to ring fence 40 per cent of the available pot to support alcohol projects after he made it a top priority in his revised Police and Crime Plan.

From 137 groups that applied for round two support, 24 have received a total of £103,226. In round one 25 groups received £90,000.

Each application was judged against a set criteria and the strength of its answers:

• How strongly the funded activity would support the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan priority areas (this was seen as the most important element of the bid);
• Who the project was aimed at supporting/assisting;
• What positive benefits the initiative would bring and how clearly these benefit/s could be identified and quantified;
• Clearly identified need for the initiative and the reach of the proposal in terms of numbers of people likely to be helped;
• Sustainability - what (if required) were the means by which the initiative could continue after the PCC funding ended;
• Degree of clarity of what the funding would be used for and assurance on the ability of the bidders to account for how the money was spent.

The judging panel included independent members representing the voluntary sector in Cornwall and Devon and its recommendations were put to the commissioning board to examine and review its selection process.

“Where public sector partners share information and work together we are able to deliver services in a cost effective and efficient way,” said Mr Hogg.

“I introduced the small grant scheme to further complement this partnership work, to bring together and support smaller community organisations that have identified new ways to help communities help themselves and, ultimately, make Devon and Cornwall safer.

“Round one of the scheme showed that a relatively small amount of money can make a disproportionate difference to a large number of people.”

In round two applications were encouraged from groups which focus on young people, parents, older drinkers and rural communities.

“What I think we have been able to do in round two is identify initiatives that will support the implementation of my alcohol plan,” said Mr Hogg.

“These are community based initiatives that focus on those with complex needs and that support a ‘whole family’ approach.

“We know that those who misuse alcohol cause a high percentage of crime in our communities and these projects will help groups to work together to tackle harmful alcohol consumption and related offending while championing the adoption of recovery models across the peninsula.”