I am conscious that in recent weeks this column has focused on some weighty topics and so this week I would like to lighten the mood by talking about some of the great work done by small organisations with the help of my office.  

My Community Grants Scheme has been running for a number of years now and offers a way for charities and voluntary groups to access funding to carry out work that supports my Police and Crime Plan priorities.   

I see this as a vital route into our communities, especially those which might not have easy access to more widespread support and initiatives which help to keep crime down and keep residents and businesses safe.  

Every year I set a theme which applicants must meet in order to qualify for funding which this year is for crime prevention measures and tackling drug and alcohol related antisocial behaviour, as well as projects or activities aimed at preventing violence against women and girls.  

This financial year I have made £200,000 available for charities and voluntary groups in Devon and Cornwall whose work meets this criteria and I look forward to hearing about some of the great work which has been enabled by this investment.  

In addition to the Commissioner’s Community Grants, Police Property Act funding is also available from sold property which has come into the possession of the police in connection with a crime and where the owner cannot be found can be sold; or from property which has been forfeited following a conviction and by order of a court if it was used or intended for use in a crime.  

Both funds are distributed by Devon and Cornwall Community Foundations. Applications have recently closed for groups in Cornwall to apply, but the good news is Devon’s round has just been launched and groups have until the beginning of October to get involved.  

Grants of up to £5,000 are available and are being delivered in partnership with Devon Community Foundation (DCF), which says the funding is so valuable as it allows those who have a deep understanding of the issues and challenges in their own communities to create their own solutions, which helps strengthen communities and builds greater resilience to crime.  

DCF has also shared some of the work supported by last year’s Commissioner’s Community Grants. Resilient Lives CIC last year secured funding for a skills and training programme created for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction in Torbay.  

The project helped support people out of addiction by teaching them to make wood-fired, sourdough pizzas, and sell them by developing skills to manage front-of-house, market and brand a business, advertise it and run a pop-up market stall in their community.  

Simon Dyer, the CEO of Resilient Lives, says this kind of project is key in offering a way forward for people who are moving away from support services, reducing the risk of overwhelm and giving them the chance to move on, earn a living and prevent the return to a pattern of behaviour that can be prompted by a fear of failure.  

Over in Cornwall, Groundworks South Trust won grant funding to create a youth club for young people of Callington to spend time with like-minded peers to divert them from participating in antisocial behaviour.    

It involved working outdoors to clear and rejuvenate a green space to allow more accessibility for residents within the area. The funding was also spent on making the youth club an attractive place for young people to spend their time.  

A youth worker was employed whose main role was to have discussions with the members regarding the issues of antisocial behaviour, substance misuse and mental health concerns, and members were also able to access training with a GB boxing coach.  

I am delighted that this funding is being used to transform the lives of young people and those who just need a helping hand to make and sustain changes that will give them the opportunity to escape the grip of addiction.  

These schemes, while small in scale, are helping people on an individual and community basis to all of our benefit.  

What could you spend up to £5,000 on to make our area safer?  

Applications for the Commissioner’s Community Grants and Police Property Act funding in Devon are open until October 2. To apply visit https://devoncf.com/grants/small-grants/