The life-changing impact of recipients of the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme  

A huge difference is being made to the lives of people who need it most thanks to two grant schemes provided by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 

Each year, small voluntary and community organisations across the peninsular are invited to apply for grants of up to £5,000 for short-term projectsA piece of work that delivers an output., initiatives and activities that directly impact communities in a positive way. 

Commissioner Alison Hernandez sets an annual theme based on local need and the key priorities set out within her Police and Crime Plan 2025-29 which are antisocial behaviour, serious violence, theft, and drugs and alcohol. 

An annual funding pot of £200,000 is available from the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme as well as additional funding from the Police Property Act FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. which varies each year as it is funded by the sale of seized goods by the police. 

The Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme for 2024/25 awarded twelve projects in Cornwall. The themes were crime prevention initiatives to make community spaces safer, and projects focusing on offering education and/ or purposeful activities for people with antisocial drug and alcohol issues. 

While the Police Property Act Fund funded eight in Cornwall, and the theme was prevention of violence against women and girls. 

Among the successful organisations awarded a grant in Cornwall for 2024/25 was Kernow Youth CIC, based at Fourway’s Children’s Centre in St Blazey. It is funded by National Lottery, Children in Need and UK Youth to build resilience and wellbeing for eight to 24-year-olds. 

It has received £5,000 from the Police Property Act fund and was a previous recipient of £4,000 from the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme in 2022. The latest funding is being used to help youth workers deliver five projects with both young women and men to prevent and raise awareness of sexual violence against women and girls.

Topics being explored include sexual harassment and assault, positive relationships, coercive control, consent, pornography awareness as well as providing a support system for victims of violence and abuse. The work is being carried out in an appropriate way with every age group it caters for. 

Senior youth worker Lisa Roach said: “It’s scary that in our young women groups, they had no idea what stalking is. We have also had quite a lot of discussions on how much they should share on social media as they seem to share everything as the world they live in is completely different than ours.  

“They are now more aware and are starting to think more about what they’re doing.” 

Thanks to a recent grant of £5,000 from the Commissioners Community Grant Scheme, and working in partnership with Groundwork South, it has launched a pilot project for Year 11s who are at risk of exclusion by offering them two days per week alternative provision.  

It has been running for 12 weeks with 16 teenagers enrolled on the programme. They are taught more practical educational as well as functional skills, and will soon be benefitting from the expertise of volunteer members from Saltash Community Shed who are now based in a portacabin on the site. 

The Core also received a grant of almost £5,000 from the Police Property Act Fund in 2023. 

Youth worker co-ordinator Charlotte Carpenter said: “Our youth programme is very reliant on grant funding as we keep the cost of our sessional very low so that everyone can come here and use it as a safe space.  

“All the pots of money we receive are a lifeline; we really wouldn’t be here be without them. To have received two lots of £5,000 from both the Commissioner’s grant schemes is massive for us as it has meant we have been able to run our projects. 

“We are always thinking of different things we can do with them to raise their self-esteem.” 

Funding of £5,000 from the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme was awarded to newly formed group The Sew and Sews Cornwall CIC in St Austell. It is run by local sewing business owner Gill Birchall who teaches industrial sewing workshops for local people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and those in contact with criminal justice system to help rehabilitate them and give essential skills for the workplace. 

Commissioner Hernandez said: “The aim of the grants schemes is to build resilience in our communities to fight crime and anti-social behaviour while using the money obtained through the seizure of assets from criminals. 

“Across Devon and Cornwall, communities are benefitting from the incredible work organisations and volunteers provide to those most in need of all ages. At a time when so many charities and organisations are financially struggling, grants are more essential than ever to ensure the good work they do continues. 

“It’s heartwarming to hear how our small grants scheme is continuing to make such a difference and is helping to create safe, resilient and connected communities. I would encourage small groups and organisations to apply for the next round of funding in the autumn.” 

The grant schemes are managed both in Devon and Cornwall by Devon Community Foundation and Cornwall Community Foundation respectively. Applications for this year’s grants will open in early September. Further details will be shared at a later date by both foundations. 

Original article published by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on 21st May 2025, read the full article here.

Image: Grub Club at The Core Youth and Community Centre in Saltash