PCC's grant scheme donates £100k to projects

More than £100,000 has been donated to 13 organisations in the first year of a police, fire and crime commissioner's community grant scheme.

Danielle Stone relaunched Safe and Sound Plan in May last year to support projects that reduce harm or offending or support vulnerable people.

Beneficiaries included Northamptonshire Rape Crisis Centre, which received £8,252 towards delivering support in its Kettering office.

Its chief executive Dawn Thomas said the support enabled it to "provide a safe, creative, and trauma-informed space for women".

The funds it received were used for an eight-week psycho-educational art therapy course, which helps survivors of sexual violence process their trauma.

Other projects which received funds included:

• Diversionary activities for young people involving both sport and music activities, with the intention of diverting them from criminality and antisocial behaviour
• Support for victims and perpetrators of crime through trauma-informed therapy
• Funding for an organisation which supports women who have been victims of domestic abuse
• Funding to upskill volunteers to support individuals affected by exploitation, trauma, poverty and addiction.

Stone said: "When I relaunched my community fund scheme last year, I wanted it to focus on projects that would help me to deliver my Safe and Sound public safety plan – with a particular focus on preventing violence against women and girls, creating safer places and better serving victims of crime.

"I have seen first-hand the far-reaching impact this work is having in towns and villages across the county."

Community groups, charities and local organisations can apply for grants of up to £10,000 through the Safe and Sound Communities Fund.

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