Support Southport: £25,000 awarded to local community groups using seized criminal funds

Community groups, charities, and organisations in Southport came together last night (Thursday 6 February) to bid for a share of £25,000 in funding – money that has been seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Support Southport saw local residents, community groups, and statutory partners collaborate to decide how public money should be spent to benefit 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, were:

• The White House – Bid amount: £2000
• Compassion Acts – Bid amount: £2000
• Brighter Living Partnership – Bid amount: £1800
• Southport Football Club – Bid amount: £1890
• The Youth & Community Partnership – Bid amount: £2000
• Phoenix Youth Project – Bid amount: £1800
• Friends of Bedford Park – Bid amount: £1404
• We Grow Co – Bid amount: £2000
• The Cupboard Southport – Bid amount: £2000
• FC Sandgrounders – Bid amount: £2000
• Fleetwood Hesketh Cricket Club – Bid amount: £2000

The following groups all received £600 runner-up money:

• SACHA 
• Southport Rugby FC 
• Hillside Improvement Team 
• Friends of High Park Green Spaces 
• Sandbrook Park Bowling Club
• Botanic Gardens Community Association 
• Friends of Rotten Row

More info on Support Southport here.

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