A POT of up to £30,000 is being made available in the latest round of applications to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund.

A number of grants have already been awarded to deserving charities around Wiltshire and Swindon, primarily those with a focus on reducing anti-social behaviour, crime or reducing offending in the community.

Applications are being sought for grants from the fund, which was set up by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson.

Wiltshire Community Foundation is distributing the fund which is aimed at helping local community and voluntary groups to address crime and anti-social behaviour and improve personal and community security. Mr Macpherson, who chairs the panel which distributes the money, said: “At the last round we had a wide range of applications and we were able to fund nine groups from across Swindon and Wiltshire.

“Projects supported ranged from creating activities for young people to supporting victims of domestic abuse.

“The amounts of money are small in the great scheme of things but make a tremendous difference to the lives of people in our communities.”

Groups supported in the last round included SPLASH, who support between 200 and 300 vulnerable and troubled young people aged nine to 16 each year, through a programme of free positive activities during school holidays.

Also supported were Salisbury street pastors, who use specially trained volunteers to patrol the streets on weekend nights to keep vulnerable people safe from harm.

The fund is now open for applications for grants of up to £3,000 which should focus on one or more of several areas, including anti-social behaviour, crime in local neighbourhoods, drug and alcohol related crime, reducing reoffending, violence against women and girls, or youth crime.

The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday, August 7.

For more information visit www.wiltshirecf.org.uk or call the grants team at Wiltshire Community Foundation on 01380 729284.