EVOLVE groups win funding to help reduce serious and organised crime
Community groups have received combined funding of £30,000 to deliver projects to tackle and reduce the impacts of serious and organised crime in Wirral.
Groups from three areas of the EVOLVE Wirral programme* – Beechwood & Ballantyne, Noctorum and Woodchurch – submitted applications for grants of up to £2,000 to deliver their idea.
The bidding groups shared their initiatives before members of their local communities voted to determine who got the funding.
The projects focused on themes of health and wellbeing, reducing or preventing crime and/or anti-social behaviour, youth engagement/intervention, environmental issues or community cohesion.
The winners were:
Beechwood and Ballantyne
- Evolve - Tackling the Impact of Substance Misuse (Switch On: Substance Misuse Prevention, Level Up: Resilience)
- Crea8ing Community (Beechwood Youth Outreach)
- Beechwood Community Shop (Greenacres: Growing Bidston, Beechwood and Ballantyne)
- Fender FC (Development sessions for new teams)
- Little Centre (Raise Your Voices Project)
Noctorum
- Our Happy Hub (Community Meal)
- Art With Mark (Art Therapy)
- Our Happy Hub (Bacon Butty Morning)
- Crea8ing Community (Nocky Drop In and Chill Youthie)
- Tattoos and Tears CIC (Youth Intervention Programme)
Woodchurch
- The Positivitree (SEND Parent-Carers 1-2-1 Life Coaching)
- Activity for All CIC (Positive Pathways Woodchurch)
- Wirral Raptors Basketball Club (Woodchurch Basketball Access Programme)
- Woodchurch Connect (Woodchurch Wellbeing Together)
- Wirral Bears Basketball Club (Girls' Woodchurch Basketball Access Programme)
This was the third year the funding initiative connected to the EVOLVE Wirral programme was offered. Organisations who have successfully bid in the previous years included schools, churches, junior football and sports clubs, charities and Community Interest Companies.
This year’s winning groups were announced at the event, held at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton, by Chief Superintendent Mark Wiggins from Merseyside Police.
Congratulations to all the winners and commiserations to those who narrowly missed out.
There are some wonderful initiatives that can make a real difference, strengthen communities and help people live more safely.
The projects can help create a positive change and ensure fewer people are drawn into criminal groups and activities. I look forward to seeing each of them put into action.
As has been demonstrated in previous years, the funding being provided under this small grants scheme can enable local, community-minded people to deliver a project or event which makes a difference and demonstrates that, together, the community is stronger.
*EVOLVE Wirral is a Clear, Hold, Build initiative rolled out by the Home Office across the UK to improve communities most affected by serious and organised crime.
The funding for the grants programme comes from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside out of money obtained under the Proceeds of Crime Act, where assets seized from convicted criminals is reinvested in communities. The funding is being distributed in partnership with Merseyside Police.
