Several organisations in the Warrington area are set to benefit from funding provided by Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price’s SWAP Fund to create projects that bring about positive community change.
Local projects to receive funding will see creative art youth engagement activities run and additional support provided to families of veterans who are currently in prison.
The projects funded in Northwich are:
- Culture Warrington – ‘Give it a go’ project, will provide youth engagement activities including DJ and music workshops, VR design, creating street art and beatboxing sessions.
- SSAFA – The Armed Forces Charity – Creation of a resource pack to support the families of veterans in Cheshire Prisons.
The £150,000 funding pot was launched in September 2024 from the Proceeds of Crime Act, money that has been seized or recuperated from criminals. It was then increased to £200,000 at Christmas ensuring more community projects could benefit from funding.
To be successful, projects had to demonstrate they could fulfil one of Dan Price’s priorities which include improving community safety, supporting victims, providing early intervention programmes and reducing reoffending.
The SWAP Fund – Safety, Working Together, Action and Prevention –takes money that was earned or acquired in a negative way and swaps it for a positive community change.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price, said: “I want to help Cheshire’s communities thrive and be on the front foot providing prevention and intervention opportunities to steer those away from committing crime.
“My £200,000 SWAP fund is the largest amount committed by a Cheshire PCC and sends a clear message to residents across the county that I will provide what help I can to help them feel safer in their area.
“Community projects have the power to have a real impact on crime. I have seen that often there is clear evidence that positive grassroots projects can divert those who would have committed crime down other avenues. I’m looking forward to visiting those who have been awarded the funding, seeing first-hand the positive impact they’ve had.”
These projects follow on from 28 projects that were previously funded from the SWAP fund towards the end of 2024.
More information about the SWAP fund is available www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/what-the-commissioner-does/community-funding/SWAP-Fund/
