Community Groups Share Nearly £50k

27ain Mawrth 2015

The 'Your Voice, Your Choice' event is funded through the Gwent High Sheriffs' Community Fund, which has received a significant contribution from commissioning monies held by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston. This is the fifth year that the 'Your Voice, Your Choice' event has run.

The money was made available to local groups involved in promoting and supporting community safety, crime prevention, youth diversion as well as tackling drugs and alcohol abuse.

Each group had just a few short minutes to sell their project to all of those present at the 'Your Voice, Your Choice' event held at Bedwellty House in Tredegar on Saturday (21st March). After each presentation, the other groups scored their bids and all of the results were added up at the end of the event.

The event was attended by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston, and the Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Jeff Farrar. So impressed were they with the quality of projects on display that they agreed to top up the funding pot with £8,633 from the Proceeds of Crime Act (cash seized from criminals) so that all 18 groups who pitched received a share of a total of £48,633(full list of projects funded at the end of the release)

Gwent High Sheriff, Gill Sheddick, said: "I would like to thank all the wonderful local groups who shared with us their stories at the Your Voice, Your Choice event over the weekend. I am delighted that almost £50,000 was given to local charitable projects. I am very pleased to support communities in Gwent; in particular, those initiatives which build confidence and self-esteem in young people so as to equip them for life in a competitive, adult world. These community groups are truly an inspiration to all of us and it's heartening to see that we have so many people with such incredible drive and ambition in Gwent who strive to improve the lives and life chances of people in their communities. A huge congratulations to all the projects on their success."

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston, said: "There are countless community groups working hard to provide diversionary and supportive services to residents all across Gwent, helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The work that they do is vital to many people and I am pleased that I have been able to provide some funding and hopefully helped them to continue to prosper."

Liza Kellett, Chief Executive of The Community Foundation in Wales, said: "As the Community Foundation for Wales, our job is to show that together, we can make a difference in communities. The past, current and future High Sheriffs' are true philanthropists. They give their time and skills to fundraise in aid of their fund and to make grants available to inspirational community-based projects, which reduce crime and build community safety. It is a great pleasure to work in partnership with the High Sheriff of Gwent and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent to manage grant investments to such impressive local projects."

The Gwent High Sheriff's Community Fund, which is managed by the Community Foundation in Wales, is made available each year as a result of the High Sheriff organising charitable events during their year of office.

For more information about Your Voice, Your Choice' events, please visit the Gwent High Sheriff's website www.ghscf.org.uk/fund-news

For a full list of projects funded, please click here