Applications are being sought for grants from The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon, which for the third year is distributing a fund set up by Wiltshire Police Authority aimed at helping local groups address crime and anti-social behaviour, and improve personal and community security.

Since the appointment of Angus Macpherson, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, the fund has been renamed The Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund. It continues to raise funds through the sale of unclaimed lost property and makes grants twice a year.

Laura Phillips, High Sheriff of Wiltshire, and a member of the grant panel, said: “We are particularly keen to support projects which help to bring communities together and improve trust and understanding and we welcome projects which offer a new or innovative approach.”

Applications for grants of up to £3,000 are invited and should focus on one or more of the following areas: anti-social behaviour, crime in local neighbourhoods, drug and alcohol related crime, reducing re-offending, volence against women and girls as well as youth crime.

Chairman of the grant panel, Angus Macpherson, said: “At the last round we had a wide range of applications from groups working with ex-offenders, victims of crime, the young and the old. We were able to fund 10 groups from across Swindon and Wiltshire.

“This year the pot is larger and whilst the level of grants that we can give are modest, we are very keen to see projects that would not happen but for the grant we make.”

The fund is now open for applications. For further information visit www.wscf.org.uk or call the grants team on (01380) 729284.