More than 37,000 people across Merseyside are set to benefit from 20 projects funded by the region’s Police Commissioner to help increase safety and boost community spirit in their areas.
A community café for older people, a horticultural project for young people and a host of projects focused on tackling anti-social behaviour are all among the initiatives which have been awarded grants from Emily Spurrell’s new Neighbourhood Resilience Fund.
Neighbourhood groups are also set to use the funding to improve a shared garden, install CCTV, run classes for young people and hold sessions to increase community cohesion.
The Commissioner launched the Fund in June to help foster and maintain more resilient, safe, and caring communities across Merseyside.
It is designed to give community groups across Merseyside a small but vital cash boost to work with local police teams to solve problems in their area, and protect their neighbourhoods, while encouraging residents to be alert and aware of issues.
Among the organisations receiving funding are Onward Homes who have received a grant to provide two community hubs in areas which have been blighted by ASB. The events in Beechwood on the Wirral and on the border between North Liverpool and Knowsley will provide a safe space for residents to discuss their concerns with the police and other partners.
Also among the recipients are Maghull Town Council who will use the funding to create a Youth Council to increase understanding of what provision young people would like to see in the town and support the development of a volunteering scheme.
Several other organisations, including Rawden Residents Associations, Liscard Community Links and Team Oasis, will also use their grants to help transform and improve their spaces and create community gardens.
Funding will be used by the Fazakerley Federation to hold a weekly breakfast morning, while Age UK Wirral will put the money towards creating a community café in West Kirkby.
The launch of the Neighbourhood Resilience Fund is a key way the PCC is delivering on her priority of Supporting Victims and building Safer Communities.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Merseyside is full of communities that care. We benefit from having lots of brilliant community organisations which are working hard to make their areas safer, more resilient, and better connected.
“I launched my Neighbourhood Resilience to help support their efforts and empower local people to take action.
“From creating new communal spaces and green places to community cafes, breakfast clubs, improved CCTV and events to improve cohesion, there were some fantastic projects put forward.
“Whether it’s enabling a grassroots group to kickstart a new project or improve and expand their existing work, these grants are all designed to cultivate local resilience and security, whilst offering reassurance to the most vulnerable people living in their areas and boosting community spirit.
“I can’t wait to see the impact they have over the coming months and years.”
Groups applying to the funded needed to show how their project would prevent crime, increase community safety and cohesion, improve the environment or wellbeing of their community, make their roads safer, engage young people or build and enhance local networks.
