Community Cashback 2009/2010
15th October 2009
We are delighted to announce that the following projects have been awarded grant funding under the Community Cashback 2009/2010 pilot.
1. 'SAFE Scheme' - Carlisle - £12,000
2. 'Eden Community Outdoors' - Appleby - £13,000
3. 'The Adventure - Teen Area' - Kendal - £58,500
4. 'Positive Opportunities at the Weekend' - Workington/Whitehaven - £20,000
All these four projects are linked by the common theme of addressing an identified crime or anti-social behavior issue in their particular area, with the emphasis on providing alternative and constructive activities for young people. Youth disorder and anti-social behaviour is a frequently raised issue amongst a number of neighbourhoods and communities around the county. Community Cashback presents an opportunity to try and postively address some of those concerns through the re-investment of cash and assets recovered from criminals using powers granted under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Further information about these projects is available via the Community Cashback website.
We will provide progress reports on the four projects over the next few months.
Original announcement of Community Cashback scheme
A new pilot fund is giving people a direct say in how the ill gotten gains of criminals can be used to benefit their communities in the fight against crime – and you too can have a say.
The £4 million Community Cashback scheme is being funded by money and assets seized from wealthy criminals. It allows the public to choose which worthwhile community projects are funded by feeding in their views to a new dedicated website, neighbourhood policing meetings or through Citizens’ Panels.
Successful bids will have to show how the local community has been involved in selecting the project, demonstrate good value for money and be related in some way to tackling antisocial or criminal behaviour locally. This might include renovating a vandalised play area, investing in a youth centre of installing security measures on a housing estate.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:
“The Community Cashback fund will ensure a portion of the ill gotten gains of criminals are ploughed back into communities at a grassroots level, funding the projects that the public decide will make the most positive difference to their lives.
“Seizing capital assets deprives criminals of money, reduces the incentive for crime and promotes fairness and confidence in the criminal justice system. But schemes like Community Cashback fund are only successful if people use them. We are giving local people a stronger voice; I hope they will use it.”
Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey said:
“It is only right that the public should have a say on how cash from criminals is spent in their community. This sends a strong message to the public that the criminal justice system cares about what they think and is on their side. This in turn might encourage more members of the public to help in the fight against crime - to pick up the phone to report a crime, stand up in court to give evidence and support others to do the same.
“Today’s announcement follows the successful results of a vote on Community Payback schemes that we publicised last week – a total of 18,000 people across the country nominated what work offenders should do to make amends for their crimes.
“The message behind Community Cashback and Community Payback is simple – the public must have a stronger voice in the criminal justice system – after all, it operates on their behalf and must have their backing.”
Click here to link to the Community Cashback website page for Cumbria