A nature based rehab project and an online safety scheme for people with learning difficulties are among organisations to benefit from the police and crime commissioner’s latest wave of grant funding.

East Anglian Daily Times: Porch Project youth group Picture: SIMON LEEPorch Project youth group Picture: SIMON LEE (Image: Simon Lee Photography)

Four organisations will share more than £38,000 awarded by Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Tim Passmore to fund various projects helping to reduce crime and disorder, or support victims and witnesses, in the county.

The Green Light Trust received £9,470 towards a nature based rehabilitation activity for women overcoming drug or alcohol misuse.

The Porch Project, in Hadleigh, received £20,000 to help fund youth workers.

Suffolk’s Neighbourhood Watch Association received £3,145 to promote the scheme.

The Befriending Scheme received £5,500 towards online safety training for members with learning difficulties in Babergh.

Mr Passmore said: “Commissioning services to support the work of the constabulary is an important element of my role as PCC.

“I am absolutely delighted to be able to support these four organisations in their valuable work.

“We rely very heavily on the support of voluntary and community organisations, and we are indebted to them for their commitment and enthusiasm.

“I truly believe that, without the support of organisations such as these, we would be a much poorer society.”

The PCC allocates funding through various grant programmes and has awarded more than £3m to domestic abuse and sexual violence services since 2014.

Crime and disorder grant funding is divided into two areas – with the PCC allocating £300,000 annually to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund, administered by Suffolk Community Foundation with grants of up to £20,000, while larger grants are managed by the PCC’s office.

A grant panel, which considers applications, includes a representative of the PCC’s executive team and chairmen of all community safety partnerships in Ipswich, West Suffolk, Waveney and Suffolk Coastal.

The panel is chaired by the PCC, Mr Passmore, who is responsible for final determination of each award.