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2016 – 2017

Grants 2016/2017


This page tells you all about the grants and awards I have made in 2016-17 to help deliver priorities in my Police and Crime Plan.

From the 1st April 2015 Police and Crime Commissioners were made responsible for providing key emotional and practical support services for victims of crime in their locality.  Funding to support this is provided by the Ministry of Justice through an allocation based on a population formula which in Northumbria means a grant of £1,696,753.

Crime can leave victims feeling upset, scared and intimidated and it was felt by the Government that PCCs with their local knowledge are best placed to target funding where the help is most needed.

In addition to this avenue of funding PCCs can make grants as outlined in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2012 to contribute to securing crime and disorder reduction in their area.  I have set aside savings made from my own office costs to make the overall grants programme possible this year.

The main focus of the PCCs grants programme 2016-17 is to support the Police and Crime Plan objectives ‘putting victims first’, ‘dealing with ASB’ and ‘building community confidence’.

We have developed policy direction based on an assessment of need and selected the most appropriate delivery mechanism by which to satisfy need in top quality provision in a cost effective way.

Information on each of the grants and awards made as part of my 2016-17 programme can be found below:

Victims First Northumbria


£726,850 has been awarded to Victims First, completely revitalising the victim referral process and services for victims of crime in Northumbria. Victims First Northumbria enables all victims of crime, direct and indirect such as parents, siblings, children and partners to cope and recover from the impact of crime.

Victims First Northumbria provides a ‘one stop shop’ for victim services.  The service provided to all victims, both who report to the police and those who do not will be offered support that generally falls into four broad categories;

  • Initial emotional and practical support including signposting
  • More detailed/longer term emotional and practical support including restorative justice
  • Support and referral to existing specialist services that can help a victim cope and recover
  • Referral to victim services commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)

You can find out more about the Victims First service by visiting their website www.victimsfirstnorthumbria.org.uk

Strengthening Specialist Victim Services – Supporting Victims Fund


The PCCs Supporting Victims Fund was launched in 2015-16 to strengthen the overall offer of support to victims in Northumbria and improves and widens the services available to our most vulnerable and priority victims.  Priority victims are those that are entitled to an enhanced support service under the Victims Code of Practice, Victims Charter and the EU Directive for Victims of Crime.

To find out about the key themes of the fund and guidance provided to local providers please click here

Our assessment in 2016-17 builds on our understanding of services, projects and need in year 1 and is based upon Northumbria wide and local strategic assessments identifying levels of crime and any new and emerging crimes and issues facing our area where victim needs may arise and also local research and consultation with victims groups and service providers.

The four key priority victims groups remain the same this year but key areas that we are seeking to support have been updated in line with the changing needs of victims and our understanding of local service provision:

Domestic abuse and sexual violence – Victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence account for 52% of the most vulnerable victims in Northumbria.  Taking into consideration what we know about local services and issues facing victims we particularly supported projects that help to strengthen support in the following areas:

  • Specialist support for male and female victims
  • Enhanced provision for minority ethnic victims including support for honour based violence and FGM victims
  • Specialist support for victims who have experienced child sexual abuse
  • Breaking the generational cycle of abuse
  • Interventions for those most violent and serial perpetrators
  • Support for children of domestic abuse victims
  • Emotional and practical support for victims of stalking and harassment

Victims under 18 – Victims under 18 account for approximately 34% of the most vulnerable victims in Northumbria. Taking into consideration what we know about local services and issues facing victims we particularly supported projects that help to strengthen support in the following areas:

  • Direct emotional support for young people following a crime
  • School based support and guidance
  • Support for young victims of domestic and sexual violence
  • Prevention and breaking the cycle of victim to offender
  • Emotional and practical support for young victims who experience cyber related crime and harassment

Victims of hate crime – Victims of hate crime make up approximately 7% of the most vulnerable victims in Northumbria. Taking into consideration what we know about local services and issues facing victims we particularly supported projects that help to strengthen support in the following areas:

  • Personal emotional support for repeat victims of all hate crime
  • Building trust and confidence in public authorities
  • Building community cohesion and support for victims of race hate crime
  • Peer based support to assist victims cope and recover

Victims with mental health needs and those who are vulnerable due to risk of abuse/harm – Victims with mental health needs and those who are vulnerable due to risk of abuse/harm account for 7% of the most vulnerable victims in Northumbria.  Taking into consideration what we know about local services and issues facing victims we particularly supported projects that help to strengthen support in the following areas:

  • Specialist support for those victims of crime who are vulnerable due to a mental health need
  • Support for older victims of crime with integration into local communities
  • Tailored support for individuals who may have additional language or communication needs
  • Support for victims of cyber-crime including those at risk of exploitation
  • Specialist support and practical guidance for victims of crime with regards to criminal injuries compensation and understanding the criminal justice system

A range of grant awards have been made as part of the PCCs Supporting Victims Fund, which was an extremely detailed and competitive process.  You can view the organisations I have supported during 2016-17 here.

You can view the terms and conditions of the Supporting Victims Fund grants by clicking here.

Commissioners Community Fund


Since my appointment as Police and Crime Commissioner I have also supported many local groups, voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises through my Commissioner’s Community Fund. Groups have been able to apply for funding up to a maximum of £2,000 to locally support me to tackle ASB, build community confidence or prevent crime.

You can view the groups I have supported during 2016-17 here

You can view the terms and conditions of the Commissioner’s Community Fund Grants by clicking here

Other Grants and Awards


In addition to the above grants I have also supported several other projects that help to drive delivery of priorities as outlined in my Police and Crime Plan.

Anti-Social Behaviour Volunteer Network

In 2014-15 the PCC supported North Tyneside Council to launch their ‘volunteer victim support group’ to support victims of anti-social behaviour to cope and recover following an incident or sustained attacks.  The project proved successful with 16 ASB Volunteers trained to support those in need and a high demand for the service.  In 2015-16 the PCC supported all areas to introduce similar schemes to strengthen the support available for victims of ASB and to ensure that this support continues at a local level this year a grant of £5,000 has been awarded to each local authority.

Domestic Violence Support and Advice (DVSA) Car

In 2013 the PCC supported a pilot scheme in Sunderland in which experienced workers from the women’s organisation Wearside Women in Need (WWIN) go out on duty with police at peak times in response to call about domestic abuse.  While the police engage with the perpetrator, the WWIN worker will talk to the woman and offer advice and support, providing early intervention for the victim.  This project was then established in Newcastle and both projects have been successful seeing more women access support at the point of crisis.  The intention in 2016-17 is to roll this project out in a sustainable way to the other four local authority areas in Northumbria, targeting particular hotspots.  Funding will be made available to ensure this early intervention is available right across our police force area.

Local Criminal Justice Board

The PCC has responsibility to work with criminal justice partners to ensure an efficient and effective criminal justice system.  The Northumbria Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) should be key to enabling this partnership work.  There is an intention to further strengthen the role and work of the LCJB over the coming year to best align outcomes and work towards them collectively.  A small grant will be provided to accelerate this work, options are still being considered and an update will be provided at a later date.

Monitoring and Evaluation


All grants have been provided with the agreement that output and outcome monitoring information will be provided quarterly with open surgeries to discuss performance and practical delivery to ensure the work delivered through the grant meets expectations.  The OPCC grants programme will be evaluated and a summary reported in the PCCs Annual Report 2016-17 in summer 2017.

If you would like to find out more information about my grants programme this year please don’t hesitate to contact my office at enquiries@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk

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