Chester

Rage Fitness applied for funding to help tackle anti-social behaviour and reduce re-offending in their local community.

Craig Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Rage Fitness said: “The PCC funded the Rage Fitness Prevention and Well-Being program. We supported over 50 young people to improve physically and mentally. But our aims were clear. This work had to reduce anti-social behaviour, tackle addiction issues and reduce re-offending in our community.

“The impact the well-being program had on the young people is profound. The positive feedback we’ve had and the statistics we’ve received showing a decrease in anti-social behaviour has demonstrated the impact of the project.

“I would encourage people to apply for the PCC’s fund, as community projects across the board can make a huge impact. Empowering people to look after themselves, ultimately helps our communities.”

Crewe

Age UK Cheshire East, applied for funding to run a week long awareness event ‘We Need to Talk about Scams’ which was aimed at the public and professionals. The public aim was to provide awareness of the signs and how to report a scam. The professional aim was to raise awareness of the services available to help support those affected by fraud and scams.

Emma Kennedy, Project Manager, Age UK Cheshire East said: “’We Need to Talk about Scams’ was a week long event in Crewe and Congleton to help raise awareness of scams and fraud with the public of Cheshire.

“The PCC funding helped us to reach a wider audience and people went away more informed about the signs of scams, how to avoid them and importantly how to report them.

"I would encourage people to apply for the PCC fund, because community projects that help protect the most vulnerable in our societies are important to help prevent crime. Our lasting legacy is that more older people will be protected from scams and fraud in the future.”

Knutsford

Knutsford Together applied for funding to empower the community to come together and help each other when they need it most.

David Briggs, CVO, MBE, KStJ from Knutsford Together who benefited from the previous community fund said: “Knutsford Together has now been operating for two years and in this time it has helped more than 200 people in need.

“In what many regard as a wealthy town there are many people in very real need, with the largest issues being loneliness and mental health challenges.

“The grant from the PCC’s community fund has enabled us to expand our activities and to make a real difference to the lives of many of those in need in our local community.”

Runcorn

Brookvale Community Centre in Runcorn, applied for funding to help equip their community café, ensuring they could continue to support those in the local community.

Mal Hampson, Operational Manager, Brookvale Community Centre said:

“We were delighted that we received PCC funding, it made such a massive difference to our community here in Runcorn.

“It enabled us to buy furniture for our community café, which has grown from strength to strength.

“I would highly recommend anybody who’s thinking about applying to do it. It will make such a difference to your community. It is such an east process and help is at hand if it’s needed.”

Warrington

Livewire Warrington applied for funding to train and develop young people from local communities into becoming leaders of the future

Paul Flannery, Community Sports Development Manager, Livewire Warrington said: “Funding from the PCC Community Fund was the catalyst for Livewire to begin delivering the award-winning youth mentor project ‘Back on Track’.

“By gaining this funding we were able to work with some of the most needy and complex young people in the county. The outcomes from this project have been phenomenal.

“None of this would have happened without the support from the PCC.”

Winsford

The Winsford Youth & Community Forum applied for funding to provide a safe space for young people to go to on a Saturday night, promoting positive relationships and encouraging the young people to make positive choices. The project also aimed to help educate young people on communication, problem solving and reliability.

Debbie Cragg, Executive Director of New Images Community Centre, said: “The PCC funding has enabled Winsford Youth & Community Forum to provide a safe, positive space for young people to meet with friends and enjoy activities and games. It has allowed our team to build constructive relationships with local young people and by doing this enables us to understand their needs and support them in other areas of their lives.

“We would encourage any local charity looking to support their communities to apply for the PCC funding – the process is easy and there is always encouragement and help on hand for those less experienced in applying for grant funding.”