The Home Office has launched the £4.5m Community Fund to tackle youth violence first announced in December 2008.

It is aimed at voluntary and community groups that work with young people either involved in, or at risk of being involved in gangs, or who may carry offensive weapons such as guns or knives.

Grants of up to £10,000 per year are available for up to 3 years.

The fund is available in 13 priority areas including the Metropolitan Police area.

Closing date: 3rd April 2009

THEMES

Work must fit within one of the five themes:

1. Reduce knife crime among young people (25 or under)
2. Reduce gun crime and gang-related violence among young people
3. Combat and change the negative influence of delinquent peer groups
4. Prevent young people from initially becoming involved in gun, knife and
   gang related crime
5. Break the cycle of re-offending among young people

Work can include mentoring, education, outreach, or support schemes

EXCLUSIONS

However, they are unlikely to fund:

• Films/videos on gun or knife crime (unless produced by young people and where there is clear evidence that the activities will directly contribute to one of the five programme themes)
• Educational resources for schools
• Gun and knife crime seminars / workshops / events
• Sporting activities (unless there is clear evidence that the activities will directly contribute to one of the five programme themes)
• Campaigning activity
• Any party political activity
• Commercial ventures – i.e. if the project will make a profit

ELIGIBILITY

You are eligible to apply for funding if your organisation is:

• A registered charity
• A social enterprise
• An unincorporated association/community group
• A company limited by guarantee (with charitable aims)

You are ineligible to apply for funding if you are:

• A statutory organisation, such as local authorities, school, police force, or further education/higher education institutions.
• An organisation in Scotland and Northern Ireland (We are able to fund organisations in England and Wales only).
• A commercial or profit making organisation
• An individual

MORE DETAILS

Application Forms and Guidance Notes are available from the Grants Admin website

This fund is being managed on behalf of the Home Office by Tribal’s Community Development Team.

Advice from VAL

The Guidance Notes make mention of the various Government strategies around gun and knive violence, and around gangs. It is probably worth reading this information before making an application.