COMMUNITY groups have been invited to apply for a share of £200,000 to help tackle serious violent crime.

West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson, has launched the latest round of his Safer Communities Fund with £200,000 available for community projects that specifically tackle all forms of serious violent crime, including those focusing on prevention and early intervention, supporting diversion away from crime, protection and education and support for victims of serious violence.

The Safer Communities Fund was launched in 2014 to help keep communities safe by providing grants to the voluntary sector, community groups, charities and partners to projects can apply for a grant of up to £5,000.

The Fund is financed by money recovered from criminals by West Yorkshire Police and prosecutors under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and so far has given out over £2.2million in grants to 510 projects from across West Yorkshire.

Mr Burns Williamson said: “We have been working really hard in West Yorkshire to tackle all forms of serious and violent crime, but sadly we have all seen the recent headlines both in West Yorkshire and across the country. A key part of the solution is our communities and we are looking for projects which can make that real difference at a local level in helping to deter and prevent such incidents and crimes from happening in the first place.

“We also need everyone’s help in spreading the word about the fund so it can reach all the groups and projects that it could potentially help. If you know of any organisations that could benefit from this funding please point them in our direction as such work is all part of our strategy of better engagement across West Yorkshire.

“Finally I would like to put on record my thanks to West Yorkshire Police and prosecutors for their hard work in ensuring that criminals aren’t benefitting from their ill-gotten gains and that we consistently have good sums of money to put back into our communities in making a positive difference.”

This round of the fund closes for applications at 12 noon on June 15.

To apply, visit visit https://www.westyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/safer-communities-fund.aspx.