Community projects including playing field improvements, education projects, lighting for public spaces, CCTV and traffic safety initiatives are among 30 projects funded by Hull City Council’s Crime Prevention Fund in its first year.
The fund launched towards the end of 2022, with an initial £250,000 available – this has since been increased. Local groups and organisations of all sizes were invited to bid for grants to tackle crime through community-based solutions.
Funding is awarded every month, on a rolling basis. This has allowed groups to get an answer and receive funding quickly throughout the whole year, rather than working to a deadline.
Awards made include:
- Six separate security and CCTV projects across the city, including Bellfield Park/Grasby Park; Orchard Park neighbourhood (to support the wider Safer Streets bid); East and West Neighbourhood Policing Teams; Oak Road Playing Fields; Mosque and Islamic Inst, Pearson Park
- Two traffic speed reduction initiatives on Southbridge Road and round Pearson Park
- Community safety events on Sutton Park, providing residents with a package of measures to reduce burglary risk
- Better street lighting and improved security in nine locations around Hull including parks, playing fields, community centres and sports facilities
- Support for two separate projects, one for vehicle maintenance and another toward the cost of buying a vehicle – both projects work to support and educate young people at risk of being drawn into crime
- Noise monitoring equipment, for the Neighbourhood Nuisance Team to support residents experiencing antisocial behaviour
- Three projects to improve playing fields, sports equipment and multi-games areas
- Support for six project to improve security in community areas with the use of improved fencing and gating.
In total, since the fund launched, £348,499 has been allocated. It is still open – community groups can bid for amounts between £500 and £25,000, for any project intended to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour and improve feelings of safety.
Cllr Dave McCobb, whose portfolio includes antisocial behaviour and community safety, said: “When we set up the Crime Prevention Fund, it was because making Hull a safer city to live and work is a priority for us. We are now at the point where we can really see the difference this project is making.
“The projects which have secured funding reflect the needs and priorities of local people and make a visible, tangible improvement. Residents can see that in their own communities, public spaces are more secure and better lit, sports clubs have improved facilities and can carry on playing in the dark, belongings are better protected from theft and outreach projects are able to continue going our into local neighbourhoods and preventing crime before it starts.
“We look forward both to seeing the future schemes which make successful bids, and to seeing the legacy on our streets of those who have already received funding”.
One project to benefit from the fund was rugby club Hull Dockers, which received £2,000 towards six sets of portable to help girls’ and boys’ teams in the junior and youth categories, keep playing safely later into the evenings, and through winter.
Chris Dearing, Hull Dockers youth section treasurer, said: ““Amateur sports clubs in general and particularly local rugby league teams provide sporting opportunities for thousands of local children and young people. One of the biggest challenges clubs face is securing safe, affordable training facilities particularly over the winter months.
“The grant from Hull City Council’s Crime Prevention Fund will allow us to utilise outdoor training facilities throughout the autumn and winter for many years to come, giving children and young people the opportunity to take part in rugby league activities”.
The Crime Prevention Fund comes from capital funding. The next stage for the project, in addition to supporting further community projects, is to develop a framework to assess the impact and outcomes of grants awarded.
To apply for a grant online, and for more information, visit the Hull City Council website: www.hull.gov.uk/communities-1/crime-prevention-fund