Community Initiatives Fund

New £200,000 Community Initiatives Fund launched by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to community and voluntary organisations to help overcome social effects of Coronavirus isolation.

Following a surge in voluntary and community activity to help those self-isolating under COVID-19 restrictions, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, has made £200,000 available over the next six months, to help fund voluntary and community activity which helps and supports people having to self-isolate under COVID-19 restrictions.

The new Community Initiatives Fund which comes into effect on Monday 4th May 2020, will be funded from money which has been allocated from items seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Each year, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner invites local community groups to bid for a grant from the existing Active Citizens Fund which is money which must go into community projects and cannot be spent on recruiting Police officers.

Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Waheed Saleem said:

“This really is a fantastic way to support, in a practical way all those people who are rapidly responding and organising in new ways to connect with each other within their communities. This includes online, providing practical and spiritual support, and using local supply chains.

“Through local community policing, I want to encourage and support community initiatives and networks that are enterprising. I want to hear from people about how they can provide new solutions to reach the vulnerable, protect them from threats and harm and to help them thrive despite the current restrictions”.

Community organisations can bid for funding up to £5,000.

Community Initiatives Fund Application Form can be accessed by clicking here.

Source: West Midlands Police