'Support Southport' Puts Crime-Seized Funds into the Hands of the Community
Community groups, charities and organisations in Southport on Thursday 6 February bid for a share of £25,000 funding, made available using money seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
‘Support Southport’ brings together diverse stakeholders including residents, community groups and statutory partners, to decide how public money should be spent for the benefit of their community.
With the focus on projects which aim to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour or support vulnerable people, bidding groups each had two minutes to gain support for their project and present to members of the community what they propose to use the funding for.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy KPM said:“Alongside our ongoing proactive work to tackle criminality, we are passionate about working with partners and local community members to amplify their initiatives and improve where they live.
“Events like ‘Support Southport’ give us an opportunity to engage with our communities. Local organisations will now benefit from the ill-gotten gains of criminals, as this funding will be reinvested back into the community to support projects benefiting hundreds of people in the area.
“All of the organisations that presented tonight are doing fantastic work already in helping to build stronger communities. I am confident that the positive impact from each and every one of these initiatives will be felt for a long time and I look forward to hearing how they progress in the months and years to come."
Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:“From schemes that help and support vulnerable people, to projects that offer young people a place to develop skills and flourish, to initiatives that prevent anti-social behaviour and crime, these organisations are at the centre of the communities they serve.
“These events are about creating a foundation, and we do that by improving opportunities for people, and with the insight and enthusiasm of Southport residents, we are able to enhance the brilliant work these local groups are already doing, by channelling this money back into the community – right where it belongs.
“By seizing money and assets off criminals and gangs and giving it back to local people we are preventing those who seek to inflict misery on our neighbourhoods from benefitting financially from their illegal activities, instead reinvesting it in initiatives that help prevent crime, to create safer, stronger places for us all to live, work and play.”
The winning bids, as decided by the audience last night, are:
The White House
Bid amount: £2000
The White House is introducing a safe space group for those who are about to give birth or have given birth. Attendees will have access to support, signposting, the opportunity to make friends, and feel less lonely and vulnerable. The White House will use the funding to make this service free to attend. This project supports vulnerable people.
Dani Gillett, The White House, said: “We won £2,000 and that means that no parent in Southport will struggle on their own, there will be a hope, there will be empathy, there will be a listening ear with a cup of tea or a coffee and you can come and build your village as a new parent.
“The event was absolutely amazing, really well organised and it’s great to see the community being a part of what the community is about.”
Compassion Acts
Bid amount: £2000
Compassion Acts are bidding for funds to allow them to continue to provide school uniform to those unable to meet the costs, proceed with their community market, and keep up their warm spaces. They would also like to introduce ‘Warm Space Xtra,’ to offer information around hate crime awareness, personal safety and more. This project protects and supports vulnerable people.
Jess McGlynn, Compassion Acts, said: “We are an anti-poverty charity in Southport and the surrounding areas.
“We were delighted to be able to take part in the event and to be chosen by our peers to receive £2,000. This money will go to further our work and continue to support our work with the most vulnerable, to support the community and build resilience and promote community cohesion which is just fantastic.”
Brighter Living Partnership
Bid amount: £1800
Funding Men’s Group and Men’s Shed, Brighter Living Partnership provide an opportunity for men to meet regularly in a safe space. It allows men, who otherwise might be isolated, to engage in social activities and practical workshops. This project supports vulnerable people.
Darren Holloran, Brighter Living Partnership, said: “We took part in the event to try and get some money to support our men’s group, looking at supporting men with their mental health, bring them together, reduce the social isolation and just get men talking in an environment such as the men’s shed which gets the men to make things out of wood but the important bit is that while they’re doing that they’re just chatting, and I think that’s the valuable thing missing from society these days.
“Thank you very much to the police for the donation, it is amazing and it’ll keep the group running for another year and the event was just fantastic.”
Southport Football Club
Bid amount: £1890
Southport Football Club are bidding for funds to run weekly powerchair football sessions from March 2025. Powerchair football is a specialised, adapted form of the sport played using electric wheelchairs with protective bumpers. This project supports vulnerable people.
The Youth & Community Partnership
Bid amount: £2000
The Youth and Community Partnership are bidding to host a programme of positive, engaging activity sessions for young people taking place in the summer term, once the lighter nights return. This will include trips, educational visits, outdoor education, and more. This project prevents crime and anti-social behaviour.
Phoenix Youth Project
Bid amount: £1800
Phoenix Youth Project are bidding for money to provide personal development projects, alongside qualifications, for young people who have been excluded or are about to be. Their summer activity project will cover issues such as drugs awareness, British values, Prevent, confidence, and being a man in today’s society. This project prevents crime and anti-social behaviour.
Friends of Bedford Park
Bid amount: £1404
Friends of Bedford Park are bidding to reinstate the 9-hole putting course and crown green bowling facility in Bedford Park, Birkdale. These facilities will then be available for the community to use, along with a new gravel court for boules. This project prevents crime and anti-social behaviour and protects vulnerable people.
We Grow Co
Bid amount: £2000
We Grow Co work with young people with autism, providing them with meaningful work placements. Their work also supplies fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs to the local community. We Grow Co want to use the money to complete a raised, accessible herb garden in Churchtown. This project supports vulnerable people.
The Cupboard Southport
Bid amount: £2000
The Cupboard Southport provide essential support to those facing food insecurity and provide food to vulnerable people and members of the community. They are bidding for a portable events stand and a chilled distribution system to safely distribute perishable goods to those in need. This project supports vulnerable people.
FC Sandgrounders
Bid amount: £2000
Following the tragedies in Southport last summer, FC Sandgrounders was founded. It aims to provide accessible football to children of all abilities, providing a safe, fun place. The funding will also be used to provide a referral scheme for children at risk of exploitation. This project supports VAWG, protects vulnerable people and prevents crime and anti-social behaviour.
Fleetwood Hesketh Cricket Club
Bid amount: £2000
Starting with taster cricket sessions in local schools, Fleetwood Hesketh Cricket Club are bidding for funds so that girls in years 6-9 can attend indoor training sessions over an 8-week period. They will then attend outdoor training sessions and develop a girls section at the club. This project supports VAWG and protects vulnerable people.
The following groups all received £600 runner-up money:
SACHA
Southport African Caribbean Heritage Association promote cultural awareness, community cohesion, and social welfare for the benefit of the African and Caribbean Community of Southport and beyond, in a fully inclusive way. They are seeking funding for their monthly coffee club, which welcomes the wider community to join. This project supports vulnerable people and victims of crime.
Southport Rugby FC
As one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world, Southport RFC are bidding for funds to deliver sessions and taster days for all schools and further educational establishments in Southport, mixed ability rugby for all in Southport, and targeted recruitment for ages 12-18 years. This project prevents crime and anti-social behaviour.
Hillside Improvement Team
HIT will use the funds to purchase bleed kits, to add to the existing defibrillator installed in 2023. This will provide 2 small kits that will be publicly accessible and will also include training for interested members of the local community. This project prevents crime and anti-social behaviour.
Friends of High Park Green Spaces
FOHPGS are bidding for funds to purchase planters to improve and maintain the three green spaces in High Park. These planters grow vegetables, which when ripe are available to the local community. This project protects and supports vulnerable people.
Sandbrook Park Bowling Club
Sandbrook Park Bowling Club are bidding to improve disabled access and site security, increase community involvement, and develop more opportunities for wider groups to engage. This will make their facilities more accessible and beneficial to the community. This project supports vulnerable people and prevents crime and anti social behaviour.
Botanic Gardens Community Association
Botanic Gardens Community Association are bidding for funds to complete their Dementia Friendly Garden that has been started by The Natural Alternating Special Needs Group. They will also use the funding to install CCTV to reduce and detect crime and anti-social behaviour. This project supports vulnerable people.
Friends of Rotten Row
FORR maintain a half mile herbaceous border, which has been in existence for over 100 years. As a group it is open for the whole community to join and work together to maintain this part of Southport’s Heritage. FORR are bidding for equipment and resources to continue this work. This project supports vulnerable people.