Trying to get more people to understand the role and functions of Police and Crime Commissioners has remained a constant challenge ever since I was elected nine years ago.
Our main duties are to appoint the Chief Constable, hold senior police officials to account for performance, set their budgets and priorities and be responsible for the police estate. What always comes as a surprise to many people is that we commission more than 40 services for victims and to reduce offending.
On top of that, every year we invite charities and voluntary groups across Devon and Cornwall to apply for a pot of money available as part of our community grant scheme.
This financial year, I was delighted to be able to provide vital funding of up to £5,000 to 41 worthwhile projects. A total sum of £200,000 was distributed to successful applicants in partnership with Devon Community Foundation and also Cornwall Community Foundation.
The criteria recipients had to meet was fitting within my chosen annual theme which this year was projects focusing on crime prevention measures, tackling drug and alcohol related antisocial behaviour, and preventing violence against women and girls.
These all fit within my Police and Crime Plan priorities which I remain committed to tackling to make our communities safer places to live and visit. Among the wide ranging 29 Devon recipients were Bideford Street Pastors; Chardstock Community Shop; Skate Molton CIC; Exeter Hindu Centre; Ellacombe Community Partnership; Dartmoor Community Chest; Crediton Youth Service and Devon-based theatre company Burn the Curtain.
What gives me great pleasure is hearing how the money I award is spent by charities and voluntary groups to make a real difference to people’s lives and the knock-on effect it has on communities, businesses, employment and our stretched health and police services.
A perfect example of the impact our community grant scheme has is north Devon-based charitable organisation Addicts to Athletes. They were thrilled to receive £5,000 – the biggest grant they have received – to help adults overcome addiction, including drugs, alcohol and gambling, through free physical activity sessions ranging from coasteering to cycling.
Without such grants to run its programme, people like 61-year-old former firefighter Andy would not have achieved sobriety for 10-and-a-half months and vastly improved physical and mental health.
I was also heartened to hear how early intervention work is helping to reduce current and potentially future offending thanks to youth workers and volunteers who help deliver a vital youth work project in Torrington called Torri Youth.
By going out to where youths hang out, and having a safe space for them to visit all year round, it instigates vital engagement and opportunities to address any issues or problems they may be facing, as well as helping to reduce anti–social behaviour, prevent drug taking and reduce the risks of child exploitation within the town and surrounding areas.
Additional funding is annually available from the Police Property Act Fund which varies each year as it is funded by the sale of seized goods by the police. During the current financial year, 13 projects have benefited from this scheme ranging from support for families who have experienced sexual and domestic abuse and violence to behaviour change work.
An organisation I am particularly familiar with because of how long my office has supported them is Surviving Abuse Northern Devon (SAND) – a confidential, specialist counselling and support service for all adults who have experienced recent or historical sexual violence.
The Police Property Act Funding is helping to deliver its crucial Women’s Peer Support Group which provides trauma-informed, therapeutic support. SAND relies on funding to keep its services going and the great thing about this support group is that there are no waiting lists meaning help is there when survivors need it.
I am hugely proud of both the community grant scheme and Police Property Act Fund because I have seen and heard year after year what a big, positive difference it makes to people’s’ lives in so many different ways.
I am looking forward to opening up the schemes to applicants again this autumn and seeing the great things people within our communities can do with relatively small but life-changing sums of money.