COMMUNITY groups wanting to set up projects to combat anti-social behaviour can now get a cash boost – from a police charity.

The West Yorkshire Police Community Trust is to make cash available for community groups, small charities and voluntary groups who are making their communities safer places to live.

Groups can now apply to the scheme for money, with grants ranging from several hundred pounds up to more than £2,500.

But they must be backed by their local neighbourhood police teams.

This year the theme for the awards is ‘working together to reduce anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods’ with a particular focus on schemes and organisations committed to stopping the carrying and use of knives.

Recent donations totalling £60,000 have included the St George’s Crypt in Leeds which won £2,500, the Street Angels in Halifax which was awarded £2,690 and the Bradford Night stop which secured a grant of £2,130.

All of the schemes provide support to vulnerable people – some of whom need help for drugs and alcohol problems – and have been praised in the past for their excellent work.

The Community Trust itself was established in 1996 and has since given away more than £900,000 in grants to those who need help to make a difference.

Supt Pete Nicholson from West Yorkshire Police’s Local Policing Department said: “The West Yorkshire Police Community Trust Awards were established to recognise and aid the tremendous efforts made by groups who work alongside our local policing teams to benefit residents.

“We are looking forward to providing more support for worthy causes this autumn.

“What we are looking for this year is for applications from groups who are working to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve education about knife crime issues. Compared to other similarly sized forces there is not a particular issue with knife crime in West Yorkshire, but we remain vigilant and active on this issue and are keen to support any scheme which will reassure our communities.”

An important requirement for those applying for grants was that they had to show they were working closely with and supported by their local Neighbourhood Police Team.

“Neighbourhood Policing is at the heart of what we do as a force and groups who apply must be supported by their NPT team,” he added.

Applications from www.westyorkshire.police.uk/communitytrust