Communities to benefit from Proceeds of Crime grants

25,000 worth of grants from money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, is being made available to community projects across the county thanks to Northamptonshire Police Authority.

Following on from the success of a trial grants scheme last year, which saw the Authority award grants totalling £20,000 to projects working with young people, this year will see an increase in the amount being made available.

As well as the difference in the amount now available to applicants, the focus for the projects has also changed to older people with particular emphasis on vulnerable older people.

The Proceeds of Crime Act allows officers to seize assets that have been acquired by offenders through conducting criminal activity. By investing this money back into the community, improvements can be made and positive opportunities provided for people, who otherwise would not have them.

David Peet, Deputy Chief Executive of the Police Authority, said: "Last year we trialled a grants scheme based on an idea put forward by a member of Northamptonshire Police, to use some of the money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act to benefit local communities.

"We received in excess of £85,000 worth of applications and were able to support 17 projects working with young people across the county which aimed to prevent them getting involved in drug use.

"Due to the success of the scheme last year, we have been allocated £25,000 for 2010/11 and the Grants Funding Group have decided that they would like to see the focus move to projects working with older people and in particular vulnerable older people.

"It is hoped the money will support projects that enable older people to continue to play an active role in their local communities.

"The application process has been kept as simple as possible following positive feedback from applicants last year and we are keen to hear from diverse community based groups and projects across the county."

Councillor Derek Lawson, chair of the Grants Funding Group, said: "We were so pleased at the success of the scheme last year and the fact that we have been allocated an additional £5,000 means we will be able to help even more projects this year. It is great to see the proceeds of criminal activity ploughed back into communities that it has so often undermined."

Gill Newton, Police Authority lead for Older People and member of the Grants Funding Group, said: "As lead member for older people I am obviously very pleased to see this focus to our grant making activity this year. Older people play a vital role within communities and can often report an increased fear of crime, hopefully this money will be used for projects that help reduce this fear and ensure that older people feel safe and can play an active role within our communities."

Applications to the grant scheme can be made until 5.00pm on Friday 12 March 2010. It is anticipated that applications will be considered shortly afterwards and grants will be made available to successful projects in early April to be used during the 2010/11 financial year.

An application can be downloaded from the Police Authority website at www.northantspoliceauthority.org.uk.