A NUMBER of Bradford-based projects will benefit from a portion of over £320,000 awarded to community projects by The Mayor of West Yorkshire.

At the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund ceremony, Mayor Tracy Brabin renewed her commitment to creating a safer West Yorkshire by granting a total of £326,032.84 to frontline community safety projects from the five districts.

The event saw 61 innovative projects run by community groups, charities, and partners, including a number based in Bradford, receive grants of up to £6,000.

A number of Bradford-based projects have been supported by the fund. They include Youthology, an organisation that addresses social isolation and supports mental wellbeing of young people.

Carolyn Cresswell, from Youthology, spoke about how the awarded money will help support their work: “We applied for the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund because we’re aware of the challenges facing the community that we will be working with.

“We understand the importance of investing in young people and providing access to affordable creative opportunities.

“The Mayor’s Fund will help us to provide heavily subsidised opportunities in the community of Wyke, in Bradford, for young people, with music sessions, fitness, mentoring and more.”

Mayor Brabin said: “The safety of everybody in West Yorkshire is an absolute priority of mine.

“My Safer Communities Fund uses money taken from criminals and gives it back to the communities harmed by their activities.”

Other funded projects across the Bradford district include:

• The Bradford Bulls Foundation’s Raise Your Game project which will support vulnerable young people aged 13 to 17 with weekly sessions in team sports.

• Peacemaker International Project which will use £6,000 for their Leaving It Intact project. The project works with schools and faith leaders/communities to address the issues of female genital mutilation.

• LADS West Yorkshire’s project will run drugs intervention and prevention workshops across Bradford in community centres, young people’s social housing, and faith settings.

The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund is financed by money from criminal activity that has been recovered by West Yorkshire Police and prosecutors under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins QPM DL added: “I am so pleased that this money, which has been confiscated from criminals following action from West Yorkshire Police, has come full circle and is being put to good use in our communities.”