Violence and Vulnerability Community Safety (VVCS) Grant now open
The Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU) are delighted to announce that the new Violence & Vulnerability Community Safety (VVCS) Grant 2021-2023 is now open for applications.
As a partnership, the strategic goal of the V&V Partnership is to reduce serious violence, the harm it causes, and to safeguard those at risk (relating to county lines, gangs and knife crime). The partnership recognise that local organisations and groups are at the forefront of some amazing work that takes place to address these issues and the new grant wants to further support this work.
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “The purpose of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership is to reduce serious violence, the harm it causes and safeguard those at risk. In the heart of our Essex communities’, small groups and charities are working tirelessly to support young people to acquire life skills and the friendships needed to grow into happy, confident young people who reject negative influences. The Violence and Vulnerability Community Safety Grant wants to support this work and I’m delighted that we can commit to funding more of these local projects which help young people and their families. I’d encourage organisations to look at the grant programme and see if they are eligible to apply.”
The 2021-2023 VVCS grant round is for local *not for profit voluntary or community clubs or organisations based in (and therefore delivering in) Southend, Essex and Thurrock only. With the grant looking to fund projects that meet the stated aims and that can run during January 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Groups can apply for up to £20,000 to deliver support and interventions for children, young people, young adults and families (families must include children and young people, young person is defined as up to the age of 25) that have a positive impact on issues relating to crime and anti-social behaviour, violence and vulnerability. This may include early intervention work, gang & ‘county lines’, and child criminal exploitation projects.
The Partnership is particularly interested in projects that can evidence they are meeting needs as highlighted by young people and local residents in the ECVYS run Listening Project 2020-2021.
You can read the full report here Some examples of need highlighted in the report are:
- Increased mental health support for young people at risk of serious violence
- Indoor/ outdoor safe spaces with affordable & inclusive activities for young people to socialise
- Opportunities for young people to learn life skills, participate in community based or volunteering projects and undertake work experience
- Work with young people and their families to raise awareness of youth violence
- Projects that promote greater communication and positive engagement between the police, youth groups and schools
- Targeted youth work aimed at those young people most at risk of exploitation
- Support for victims of youth violence
All applications must demonstrate how their project enables children & young people to:
- Make positive choices that keep them safe
- Raise self-esteem and confidence
- Build resilience
- Improve emotional and physical health and mental wellbeing
The timeline of the grant process is as follows:
Applications open: 12 August 2021
Applications close: 29 October 2021
Completed applications to be sent to [email protected] and [email protected]
Due diligence checks and panel decisions will happen after the closing date.
Applicants made aware of grant decisions: End of November 2021
Funds to be with groups Start of January 2022
This fund has the potential for groups to make a real and positive difference in the lives of children & young people in Essex at risk of serious violence and the partnership is excited to be able to work with not for profit groups in local communities to see the positive impact that this will have on our young people.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT: Organisations MUST have a recognised constitution and be a- not for profit voluntary or community club or organisation, a registered Charity, A not for profit company or community interest company or other social enterprise. company limited by guarantee, charitable incorporated organisation or Registered society.
For questions about this grant process, please contact Rachel Brett [email protected], Kirsty Smith [email protected] or Jim Pearson [email protected]
Please visit https://ecvys.org.uk/funding-news/ for more information and to download an application form.
