£83,000 Awarded to Community Projects Helping Make Wiltshire Safer

The Police and Crime Commissioner has awarded more than £ 83,000 to voluntary and community groups across Wiltshire and Swindon in the latest round of the Community Action Fund.

Delivered by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), in partnership with Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation, the fund provides grants of up to £5,000 to projects that tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, reduce violence and serious harm, support victims, and improve community safety. 

This year's funding will support a range of community-led initiatives that align with the priorities set out in the Police and Crime Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan, helping local organisations deliver practical solutions to challenges facing communities across Wiltshire and Swindon. 

The organisations receiving funding with projects in South Wiltshire are: 

Seeds4Success - £4,000 

Seeds4Success is a youth work charity which provides opportunities for young people living in rural South Wiltshire, with a focus on those at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training. Funding is towards core costs for their programme of youth activities and support. 

Morning Star - £5,000 

Morning Star is a Salisbury-based charity that runs a Recovery Centre, supporting people experiencing poverty and those recovering from addictions.  This provides positive activities and community connections, as well as a more formal Life Recovery Course. Funding goes towards their core costs. 

Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust - £5,000 

The Bobby Van Trust is committed to improving the safety, security, and wellbeing of people throughout Wiltshire and Swindon. This application covers core running costs. 

FearFree - £5,000 

FearFree in Wiltshire brings together services for victims of Domestic Abuse and their families, providing a full range of services with a single, easy to use access point.  Funding is towards The No Fear Here Club Champion project to establish a network of trained volunteers in Football Clubs across Wiltshire and Swindon to raise awareness of DA and provide a point of contact for signposting to support. 

Previous rounds of funding have helped deliver a wide range of initiatives across the county, including projects supporting victims of domestic abuse, people experiencing social isolation and homelessness, and programmes providing positive opportunities and mentoring for young people. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: "I am delighted to see more than £83,000 being invested into local organisations that are making a real difference in communities across Wiltshire and Swindon. 

"Our voluntary and community sector plays a crucial role in supporting vulnerable people, preventing crime and creating safer, stronger communities. These organisations understand the needs of the people they work with and are often best placed to deliver meaningful and lasting change. 

"The Community Action Fund allows us to invest directly in projects that support the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan and help address the issues that matter most to local residents. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects have over the coming months." 

The Police and Crime Commissioner's Community Action Fund is financed through money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act and from unclaimed property, ensuring that funds are reinvested into initiatives that help make Wiltshire and Swindon safer for everyone.