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Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens has announced her Community Action fund is back and is open for applications.

The community fund was temporarily closed in March 2016 pending the publication of the Police and Crime Plan.

PCC Sue Mountstevens said: “I set up the Community Action Fund to give voluntary organisations and residential groups that little bit of extra support to run initiatives which benefit the whole community.

“I’m proud to say that since setting up the fund, the local communities of Avon and Somerset have received more than £595,000.

“The projects that have been awarded funding to date are more innovative than I could have ever imagined.

“For example, the fund has supported a flower garden to reduce anti-social behaviour, an interactive game to educate young people about the danger of drugs and a digital toolkit to improve education on healthy relationships.

“Reopening the fund, I welcome applications and look forward to seeing and hearing about all the things you do for your community, in your local area.

“By working together we can continue to make improvements and drive the change needed in helping the communities of Avon and Somerset be safe and feel safe.”

The community fund was originally established in May 2013 and had awarded more than £595,000 to communities around Avon and Somerset.

Voluntary organisations and community groups can apply for grants of up to £3,000 for initiatives that support the Police and Crime Plan priorities and enable communities to come together to tackle issues in their area.

The Police Community Trust also offer and administer other grant schemes including the Road Safety Fund, offering grants of up to £5,000 and the General Fund, offering grants of up to £1,000.

The Commissioner’s Community Action Fund will continue to run in partnership with the Police Community Trust and will welcome applications throughout the year, with decisions being made quarterly by the trustees.

On reopening the fund, Chair of the Police Community Trust, Bea Salter said: “I’m pleased to report the continuing partnership and significant value of distributing the Commissioner’s Community Action fund, in support of extremely worthwhile projects relating to the PCC’s priorities.

“It is clear our communities have a desire to make a difference and I’ve no doubt this will come across again in the applications, I hope we continue to receive now the fund has reopened.”

For more information about the Community Action fund and to apply visit avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/Partnerships/Commissioners-Community-Action-Fund.aspx or avonandsomerset.police.uk/pct