Fund inundated with grant applications

An £80,000 community grants offer from Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon (pictured) attracted bids totalling more than £575,000.

Around 140 applications for grant assistance of up to £5,000 were received from police officers and staff for the first round of the new Commissioner’s Fund.

The projects, initiatives and schemes to receive grants from the first round will be announced towards the end of next month.

Mr Salmon said: “The response to this first round of funding was incredible; officers and staff clearly support or help deliver a wide range of initiatives. It’s a shame that so many excellent ideas will miss out in this round – unfortunately we have limited funds; they may be successful in round two which we plan to launch towards the end of this year.

“In the meantime, I’m delighted that our initial £80,000 will be shared out across the region to help improve the lives of the people in our communities.”

The Commissioner’s Fund offers grants for initiatives, schemes, charities, voluntary organisations and groups to develop ideas that have a positive impact on the community they serve. Nominated by frontline police officers and Dyfed-Powys Police staff then assessed by senior officers who make the final decisions, they should reflect - in some way - Mr Salmon’s 2013-18 Police and Crime Plan for Dyfed-Powys.

The Commissioner, elected last year, said: “The Commissioner’s Fund helps make our communities safer places. It supports a wide range of schemes in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.”

The scheme is funded by the proceeds of crime awarded to the police and from the sale of unclaimed found property. It aims to reduce demand for policing services by making excellent use of money and by helping to cut crime. It does not support individuals and sole traders, profit-making organisations and statutory bodies.