With the funding available to community groups through the ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ initiative having doubled for 2023, Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is keen to ensure that community projects in North Wales do not miss out.
The ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ initiative, supported by the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and North Wales Police celebrates a decade of funding projects in 2023 and to celebrate this milestone, the funding available to apply for has doubled to £120,000.
Since its inception, Your Community, Your Choice has sponsored grass-roots projects that bring people and organisations together, ultimately creating a safer environment for all.
Over the past ten years, a total of £428,792 has been awarded to 149 projects working to support the priorities in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan.
The funding available to winning projects for the next round of the initiative is increasing to a total of £120,000, shared across 33 projects.
· Four projects in each of the 5 North Wales counties will each receive £2,500
· Two projects in each of the 5 North Wales counties will receive £5,000
· Three pan-North Wales projects will each receive £10,000
Encouraging community projects in North Wales to apply, James said:
“The past few years have not been easy for community organisations due to the pandemic and now the cost of living crisis. I am therefore keen to ensure that they do not miss out on this fantastic opportunity.
“We are extremely fortunate to have some excellent projects doing admirable work in our communities. This funding could benefit them enormously and I encourage them to apply.”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said:
“I’d urge anyone involved in community projects and initiatives that meet the criteria to apply. This is especially true this year given the increased funding we are sharing as part of our anniversary. As the final projects are chosen by public vote, I’d also urge the projects applying for funding to make sure they get the backing of their community and get them involved in the voting.”
PACT chairman Ashley Rogers said:
“As we enter the tenth year of Your Community, Your Choice, I’d like express how proud I am to be part of this milestone.
“The projects that have already been awarded money from the fund in previous years have put the funding to really worthwhile use and I’d like to see that continued once again this year.
“As part of our anniversary celebrations, we have an increased total to give out in 2023 and we all know the past 12 months have been hard for many community organisation and projects. But with this increased funding, I hope as many community initiatives as possible step forward and apply.”
The funding for Your Community, Your Choice comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act with the rest from the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The application window for this year’s initiative will open on January 9th 2023 and closes on February 3rd 2023.
A shortlist of applicants will then be chosen by a panel consisting of the Police and Crime Commissioner, as well as PACT and North Wales Police representatives. The winners will then be decided by a public vote.
For further information on how to apply go to www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk, social media channels or the PACT & North Wales Police websites.
