LOCAL community groups and voluntary organisations are set to benefit from £150,000, of grant funding across the area. Applications, managed by County Durham Community Foundation (CDCF), were submitted before Sunday 29 April this year to Ron Hogg, the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner’s (PCVC’s) Community Safety Fund, for projects aiming to reduce crime and improve community safety. This year, the fund is supporting projects and initiatives around the following key themes: • Encourage diversionary activities, • Tackle anti-social behaviour, • Tackle harm caused by alcohol, drugs, and violence. Ron provided £100,000 of funding for 2017-18, with an additional contribution of £50,000 from CDCF. This means £150,000 is available for local projects. One of the organisations to benefit from the fund is the 700 Club in Darlington, a charity which supports those who are homeless, dependent on drugs or alcohol, or suffering with a mental health issue.
Dr John Elliston, 700 Club CEO said: “The 700 Club is a homelessness charity that helps individuals to regain control of their lives and recover their housing independence. I’m delighted that our charity was awarded £7,500 from the PCVC Community Safety Fund; the money will underwrite an initiative to encourage people who are begging off the streets by helping them to address the often complex reasons behind the need to beg.” Ron said: “In a continued era of reduced funding, I’m pleased this funding will help to improve the lives of local people. The funding round this year was once again very popular, and whilst we cannot fund every organisation that applied, I am confident the 21 awarded projects will make a positive impact in our communities.”
Margaret Vaughan, our Chief Operations Officer at County Durham Community Foundation said: “We are delighted to be working with the Police, Crime and Victim’s Commissioner, Ron Hogg, and his team again to support these very important initiatives in County Durham and in Darlington. County Durham Community Foundation has been able to contribute match funding to the Community Safety Fund to increase the reach from the fund which makes a real difference to groups and to individuals in their local communities.”
