PFCC Supports Community Organisations
Did you know that the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex has created a Community Safety Development Fund to support projects that help prevent crime and tackle anti-social behaviour in Essex?
During the last financial year, the Fund distributed £300,000 to 30 organisations across Essex that demonstrated support to the Police and Crime Plan Priorities from the Community Safety Development Fund.
Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex said: “Across Essex we have a huge number of voluntary and community groups helping to build safe and secure communities. These local groups working within their communities and solving local problems make a vital contribution and deserve to be supported.
“Empowering local communities, supporting innovation and rewarding those groups that achieve practical results at a grass roots level is an important way to keep our county safe and our communities strong and resilient.”
If you are interested in applying for a grant for your group or project please go to https://www.essex.pfcc.police.uk/what-we-are-doing/police-and-crime-plan/community-safety-development-fund/ to find out more. Applications close on June 30, 2018.
Case study:
Harlow based charity The Gifted was recently awarded funding to support its Butterfly project.
Vulnerable girls and young women are receiving help to improve their self-esteem and leading happier, healthier lives, thanks to a project in Harlow.
The Butterfly project was launched by charity The Gifted to build the self-esteem of girls and young women, as well as raising aspirations and providing education about relationships and sex.
Butterfly is delivered as a specialist six-session programme through one-to-one coaching and mentoring with girls experiencing particular difficulties or demonstrating risky behaviour.
Sessions cover subjects such as body image, strengths, contraception, relationships, decision-making and the challenges the girls face.
As a result of taking part, 88 per cent of girls were able to tell the difference between a healthy and unhealthy relationship, 82 per cent felt more confident in asking for help, 75 per cent felt prepared for the pressures of life, while 68 per cent were able to identify potential risks and how to manage them.
In the latest Community Safety Development Fund distribution from the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, the group was awarded £11,700.
The money will be spent on core delivery staff and Butterfly packs for every girl, as well as personal reflection and assessment time and final showcases.
Tori Pearson, development and partnerships lead, said: “The funding enables our work to reach those who really need it and who, without us, would fall through the gaps.
“The Butterfly offers both a preventative and intervention service to build girls’ confidence and to help those most vulnerable or suffering from very complex issues to focus on ways to make positive changes, feel heard and be accepted.
“The nature of the work we do is bespoke and we are seeing growing numbers of referrals, indicating that there is a strong need for what we do.
“Long-term, our butterflies can become butterflyettes who are peer mentors, trained to deliver or volunteer with us and pioneer the work further. This enable us to skill-up our beneficiaries, while helping others to access what we do and see there is a positive outcome, even when you think you have no one.”
Girls can be referred to the project from support services, youth groups, schools or girls can self-refer.
