Wakefield groups working to make their neighbourhoods safer could benefit from thousands of pounds worth of funding thanks to West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin.

The latest round of the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund is now open, giving groups and organisations the opportunity to receive a share of £350,000.

The fund takes money recovered from criminals and reinvests it into local organisations and projects working to make the region safer.

Funding can support a wide range of activity, including work with young people through arts and sport, support for survivors of abuse, and initiatives that help reduce reoffending or improve community wellbeing.

Wakefield groups working to make their neighbourhoods safer are being encouraged to apply for part of £350,000 funding.

placeholder image — Wakefield groups working to make their neighbourhoods safer are being encouraged to apply for part of £350,000 funding.

To date £4.9M has been awarded to 505 projects through the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund and the People’s Fund.

One of these previous projects was Life Experience, in Wakefield.

The funding helped to deliver the group’s Pathways project, which educates young people on the dangers of county lines and criminal exploitation, while supporting them into positive activities and safer futures.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: "I have promised to make West Yorkshire safer and fairer, and we are backing the people working on the ground to make that happen.

“By taking money from criminals and putting it straight into projects that prevent crime, we're supporting victims and providing opportunities to those who need them most.

“From helping young people to thrive to strengthening community wellbeing, we're delivering real change and creating safer places across West Yorkshire”

Applications will close at midday on July 3 and the fund will be awarded in October.