£454,000 funding pot launched to tackle serious violence and protect young people across Northamptonshire
Community groups and organisations across Northamptonshire are being invited to apply for a share of more than £450,000 in funding aimed at preventing serious violence and supporting young people.
The Northamptonshire Serious Violence Prevention Partnership (NSVPP) has launched its latest round of Serious Violence Duty grants, with a total of £454,711 available for projects designed to address the root causes of violence across the county.
Individual organisations can apply for grants of up to £150,000 to deliver initiatives that benefit young people aged up to 25.
The funding is intended to support projects tackling issues including personal robbery, youth violence, rape and other serious sexual offences, domestic abuse, knife crime and violence linked to the nighttime economy.
Partners say they are particularly keen to support place-based interventions that address the underlying factors which can increase the risk of violence, including adverse childhood experiences, substance misuse within households, deprivation and parental conflict or separation.
Councillor Charlie Hastie, West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet member for housing and communities, said preventing serious violence required long-term commitment from organisations working together.
He said: “Preventing serious violence doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time with all of us working together.
“This funding will support local organisations to carry on the important work they’re doing, helping steer young people away from harm and making our communities safer across Northamptonshire.
“It’s a shared effort, and by focusing on early support and prevention we can make a real difference for our residents today and leave our communities in a better place for future generations.”
The NSVPP uses a public health approach to tackling serious violence, focusing on prevention and early intervention rather than responding solely after offences have occurred.
Northamptonshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone said tackling serious violence remained a key priority for all partners involved in the partnership.
She said: “I want all people – but young people in particular – to feel safe in the places where they live.
“I would encourage any local groups and organisations to consider applying for funding if they have projects or schemes which can help prevent young people from becoming involved or targeted in serious crime.”
North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for communities, Councillor Gregory Wilcox, said the funding represented an opportunity to tackle the causes of violence and build stronger communities.
Applications must be submitted by noon on June 26. The deadline for clarification questions is noon on June 12. Further information is available through the Find a Tender service.