CRIMINAL cash seized by the courts is being pumped into a diverse range of Bradford organisations which work to keep the community safe.

A dozen organisations are to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Police and Crime Commissioner's Safer Communities Fund, which were announced last night.

That money was seized from offenders under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), which allows the courts to strip away the illegal profits made by offenders, to bankroll the work of organisations which run projects to reduce crime and protect communities.

Across West Yorkshire, almost £155,000 has been handed out, although applications were received for projects which would have cost £885,000 to fund.

In Bradford, organisations have been awarded £48,274.

The successful schemes include the James charity, which has been awarded more than £4,900 to set up a new Think Fair, Act Fair project aimed at working with young people regarded as being at risk of being radicalised.

Under the scheme, six groups, each with six young people involved, will work to promote improved community harmony.

One of the groups will be made up entirely of girls from minority backgrounds.

Much of the work will be done on board the charity's narrow boat on the canals, to provide a neutral environment. There will also be work with older members of the community, who will bring the benefit of their experience to the sessions.

Safe T, a voluntary organisation set up to help safeguard the welfare of the transgender community, will receive £4,480 to set up a series of eight seminars.

They will be open to anyone with an interest in transgender issues and spokesman Alex Kaye said the intention was to maximum value from the cash by ensuring every seat at the events were filled.

Their hope is that those attending will feed the information they have learned into society to help promote better understanding and reduce prejudice, as the number of referrals to gender re-alignment clinics continues to rise.

The city's Womenzone scheme will also receive £5,250 for work to try to raise aspirations of some young women in the community, by bringing together those who have never been affected by crime and those who have either been offenders or who have known those who are.

It develops the theme of a previous project and will use drama to help young people express their views, as a means of supporting victims and rehabilitating offenders. The scheme is focused specifically at females and will be operated through community centres and schools.

Other successful schemes are involved in projects across the city and include Relate, which has been given £,4,383; West Yorkshire Trading Standards, awarded £3,326; Con-sequence, £3,468; Luv2meetU, £3,262; Bradford Council environment and sports department, £5,250; Why Don't We..., £5,250; Together Women, £5,055; Equity Partnership, £5,180; Anah Project, £5,250.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson said: “I am continually impressed by the amount of worthy causes and organisations applying for money from the Safer Communities Fund to help our communities feel safer.

“This money will allow them to help provide an invaluable service to our local communities.

“The sheer volume of applicants demonstrates just how crucial this fund is."

Applications for the next round of funding using POCA cash opens on November 3, with a ceiling of £7,500 for potential grants.