£14 million to empower communities and build safer neighbourhoods

As part of the Government's ambition to drive up community activism and build safer neighbourhoods, organisations from the voluntary sector in England and Wales are being invited to apply for a share of two new funds to support local areas in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.

The two funds are:

A £5 million 'Community Action Against Crime: Innovation Fund' - to bring together active citizens and encourage new and creative ways of working within communities to tackle crime,  with a further £5 million set aside for 2012-13. The Government is particularly keen for the fund to be made available to grass roots community activists who are not traditional recipients of government grants. The fund is also to encourage the voluntary sector to work more closely with local Community Safety Partnerships and other statutory agencies that impact on community safety to drive the co-design and delivery of services. Full details will be available on the Home Office website shortly.  Enquiries should be addressed to: CAACFunding@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.

 A £4 million 'Choices Fund' - to support the development of innovative local solutions to reduce substance misuse and offending by young people. The Home Office is inviting applications from national voluntary sector organisations. The deadline is Thursday 18 August 2011. Further information and how to apply is available at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/reducing-reoffending/iom/choices.