By Joshua Robinson –
Over £330,000 of cash seized from criminals is set to benefit victims of crime in West Yorkshire, thanks to funding from the Mayor of West Yorkshire.
The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund diverts money taken from criminal activities by police and prosecutors, and back into organisations that make their local areas safer.
At the fund’s awards evening on the 12th of September, 49 organisations received a total of £331,621 for their community-based projects supporting victims and witnesses.
West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, said: “We’re working to create a safer, fairer West Yorkshire, free from crime.”
“From healthy relationship workshops for young people, to therapeutic support for victims of knife crime, we’re supporting organisations that are making a real difference.”
Mayor Tracy Brabin added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the tireless efforts of those who work to make our communities safer and stronger.”
Each organisation will receive a cash boost of up to £8,000. The projects include:
- Bradford-based organisation Hollings Youth Association Community Interest Company (CIC) will be working with young people to educate them about the dangers of Nitro-Oxide and other recreational drugs.
- Invictus Wellbeing is running a programme supporting people back into employment in Calderdale.
- In Kirklees, Northorpe Hall Child and Family Trust will be providing support and therapy to children and young people up to the age of 18 who are victims of or witness to criminal activity and incidents such as knife crime, which impacts their emotional wellbeing.
- Leeds Rhinos Foundation will use their funding to provide support for victims of domestic abuse and their families and run a rehabilitation programme aiming to reduce re-offending.
- With their grant, Learnest CIC, through Our House, are offering support to LGBTQIA+ victims of hate crime across Wakefield and providing a hate incident reporting centre.
This will bring the fund’s total since 2021 to £1,372,006. Shared between 222 projects, the fund has benefitted 177,475 people across West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins QPM DL said: “I’m pleased that such worthy causes based in communities across the whole of West Yorkshire can be helped to thrive and provide vital support for the victims and witnesses of crime.”
“This funding has been obtained from the efforts of West Yorkshire Police’s officers and financial investigators who have worked diligently to ensure the seizure of ill-gotten cash, luxury assets and goods from criminals.”
“It’s satisfying to know they are no longer profiting from their criminal activities and that the money is now being put to good use.”
The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund support community projects that support the priorities of the region’s Police and Crime Plan. Find out more about the fund and the projects it supports.
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