SEVEN groups tackling crime and supporting victims in Bradford have received a share of £211,509.

The money was handed out to 49 community groups by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson during a presentation evening at Dewsbury Minster as part of the Safer Communities Fund.

One of the groups to benefit from project was Project 6 - an organisation which works with people affected by substance misuse and multiple complex needs across Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.

The project was given £4,800 train 30 year 11 students across three schools to support other pupils to adopt a ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing'.

Vicki Beere, CEO of Project 6, said: "The work aims to reduce the chances of young people developing a problematic relationship with any substances which would then create the opportunities for them to be drawn towards criminal activity and potentially become exploited in country lines activity or other forms of criminal behaviour."

Other benefactors of the money included the Bethel Community Church, in Bierley, which took home £4,946 and the Anah Project, a winner of £3,792.

The Anah Project provides specialist support to single Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) women and girls who flee abusive domestic situations, including forced marriage, “honour” based violence, female genital mutilation or physical abuse

Ontrak Community Initiative was also awarded £5,000 to help Bradford children who are Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET) onto a pathway where they can become positive members of society and divert them away from a life of crime.

The other three Bradford groups to receive money were Neighbourhood Resource Centre (£5,000), NEESIE (£4,915.14) and Together Women (£4899.28)

Mr Burns-Williamson said: "Unfortunately we have seen a rise in violent crime recently, not just in West Yorkshire but across the country.

"It has not gone unanswered, the police will always do everything they can to stop and prevent these offences, however community groups and organisations also have a really important part to play in preventing such crimes from happening in the first place."

Chief Constable Dee Collins, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Two of our key priorities as highlighted in out Police and Crime Plan are to tackle violent crime and to protect the vulnerable. The Safer Communities Fund reinforces these priorities and shows that crime does not pay. We continue to take money and assets from criminals and give them back to the same communities that those criminals have harmed.

“By reinvesting seized assets, we can support incredibly worthy groups and individuals in our Communities who make a real difference in both protecting those that are most vulnerable whilst at the same time tackling violent crime across West Yorkshire."