£100,000 of cash seized from criminals will bring communities together

Organisations across Merseyside are being invited to apply for a share of £100,000 which has been seized from criminals to run projects focused on bringing communities together in the wake of the violent disorder on our streets.

Throughout the last two years, £200,000 of cash and assets stripped from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) has been reinvested back into good causes in communities across Merseyside through the Community Cashback Fund.

Following the recent shameful scenes of violence and disorder in the region, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and Merseyside Police have decided to focus the next round of funding on projects which are focused on preventing crime by improving community integration and cohesion and tackling hate crime.

Grassroots organisations, charities and voluntary groups can bid for grants of up to £5,000 to fund projects which promote diversity, equality and inclusion and are designed to foster greater understanding between different communities.

Around 20 grants will be available for projects which have a focus on improving understanding of minority communities, raising awareness of the impact of hate crime and challenging harmful attitudes towards other people.

The Community Cashback Fund is one of several initiatives that take place throughout the year which enables the PCC and Merseyside Police to reinvest some of the money seized from criminals back into local communities to help provide vital resources and fund community projects across Merseyside.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “The scenes of violence we saw in our region last month were shocking and appalling. It was not protest. It was mindless crime and disorder motivated and manipulated by racism and islamophobia and all those involved are now feeling the full force of the law.

“It was a sad reminder that if stereotypes and hate-fuelled attitudes are allowed to fester it can lead to very serious crimes that have devastating consequences on many lives.

“It’s so important we tackle hate crime at the earliest opportunity and focus on building and improving community cohesion and resilience. That’s why we’ve decided that the next round of our Community Cashback Fund should focus on projects which look to prevent crime by promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.

“In the wake of the riots, we saw the very best of our region as communities came together to help each other to cope and recover. Through this funding we want to support those brilliant local organisations which are working to prevent crime and make their areas safer and stronger.

“By taking the cash out of the pockets of those who bring misery to our communities and investing it into these projects, we can effectively turn bad money into good.”

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: “Merseyside has always rightly prided itself on being a place that is friendly and welcoming of all people, whatever their background.

“The disorder we saw in Southport and Liverpool did not represent those values that so many of us hold dear. The incidents appear to have been fuelled by misinformation online and racist assumptions, as seen by the chanting of many of those involved and the targeting of mosques.

“In the aftermath of the disorder, we did see the best of Merseyside as people came together to restore pride to their communities and say very clearly that they would not tolerate violent offenders intent on driving division.

“We have been inundated with information from the public on those who took part and so far 45 have been sentenced to nearly 100 years in total.

“This money, taken from the ill-gotten gains of criminals, will help build on that and empower those residents who care passionately about where they live to make positive changes.

“It will help foster cohesion right across Merseyside and ultimately prevent the destructive crime and disorder that we saw last month.”

The fund is being managed by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, James Proctor, Programme Director said: “We are really pleased to continue the delivery of the Community Cash Back programme in partnership with the Merseyside Police Commissioner and Merseyside Police.

“This will distribute vital funds to charitable groups who support crime prevention initiatives through a focus on promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.

“The aim is to support projects which enable community cohesion and understanding, to reduce harmful attitudes and behaviours towards people in other communities, and to help our diverse communities to feel safe.”

Some examples of the types of work that can be funded include:

• Community integration and cohesion delivery focused on fostering understanding between different communities, particularly between communities of a different ethnic background, or different faith (or no faith), or between communities and migrants
• Programmes for adults or young people which seek to challenge and change potential negative/harmful attitudes and behaviours towards other people of a different ethnic background, or sexuality/identity, or who are living with a disability
• Intervention for men/young men to change potential negative/harmful attitudes and behaviours towards girls/women
• Activities that seek to prevent and raise awareness about the impact of hate crime.
• Social action projects that seek to raise awareness and address issues affecting historically marginalised people and their rights
• LGBTQ+ inclusion and pride delivery to help people to feel safe in their communities.
• Raising awareness to prevent exploitation or ‘mate crime’ committed against people with learning differences or people living with disability
• Advice and information that allows people at risk of discrimination to know their rights

The fund is being managed by the Community Foundation for Merseyside with applications set to close at 5pm on Monday 14 October.

To apply, please visit the Community Foundation for Merseyside’s website  and complete an online application form: Community Cashback (cfmerseyside.org.uk)