Prevention Fund - Small Grants (cambridgeshire Poca)

Charity Number: CUSTOM_8EF98AE9

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed (funded via POCA proceeds)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified (rolling basis applications)
  • Grant Range: Up to £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Contact Details

Address:

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Hinchingbrooke Park

Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire PE29 6NP

Postal Address:

PO Box 688, Huntingdon, PE29 9LA

Website: https://www.cambridgeshire-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/funding/

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 (excluding bank holidays)

Response Time: Aim to respond to correspondence within 10 working days

For grant inquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact the office to discuss potential applications before submitting.

Overview

The Prevention Fund - Small Grants is a community grant program established by Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston in May 2025. The fund reinvests proceeds of crime back into communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to support crime prevention and community safety initiatives. Operating under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), the fund enables money seized from criminals to support charitable purposes that enhance community safety. Commissioner Preston, a former police officer with 30 years of service (including 10 years with the Metropolitan Police and 20 years with Cambridgeshire Constabulary), was first elected in May 2021 and re-elected in May 2024. During his tenure, he has invested £21.5 million in crime prevention and victims services through government funding and proceeds of crime.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Prevention Fund - Small Grants: Up to £5,000

  • Community safety partnerships, charities, voluntary and community groups, and not-for-profit organisations can apply
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • Funds support local initiatives to prevent crime, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), or anti-social behaviour

Safer Communities Fund: Up to £5,000

  • Supports Community Safety Partnerships to tackle local crime and disorder issues
  • Provides swift response to crimes such as anti-social behaviour, road safety, bike theft, and fly-tipping
  • Rolling basis applications

Youth Fund: Up to £3,500 (Now closed to new applicants)

  • Previously supported organisations working with young people aged 5-18 (or up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs or disabilities)
  • Over 12 months, £98,000 was awarded to 33 projects across the county
  • The fund continues to support currently funded organisations but is not accepting new applications

Priority Areas

The fund prioritizes:

  • Crime prevention initiatives
  • Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) prevention
  • Anti-social behaviour reduction
  • Proactive work with children and young people at risk of becoming involved in criminal or anti-social activities
  • Activities within specific community locations that demonstrate visible responses to local crime and disorder issues
  • Empowering local communities to contribute to preventing crime and anti-social behaviour
  • Increasing feelings of public safety

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. Applicants are encouraged to contact the office to discuss eligibility before applying.

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Governance and Leadership

Police and Crime Commissioner: Darryl Preston (Conservative Party)

  • First elected: May 2021
  • Re-elected: May 2024
  • Former police officer with 30 years of service
  • 10 years with Metropolitan Police (1983-1993), serving in roles including Diplomatic Protection (guarding Margaret Thatcher), frontline and neighbourhood policing, and detective work
  • 20 years with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, working in homicide, covert units, public order, public protection, and burglary squads
  • Retired from active police duty in 2017
  • Post-retirement: Senior role at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) in Westminster, leading on serious violence, economic crime, sexual offences, forensics, and biometrics
  • Currently serves as national APCC Lead for forensics and biometrics

Commissioner's Statement on the Prevention Fund:

“This fund will provide the financial support needed to progress many of those ideas and wider work to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Application Method:

Eligible Applicants:

  • Community safety partnerships
  • Charities
  • Voluntary and community groups
  • Not-for-profit organisations
  • Organisations must be based in or serving Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. As applications are accepted on a rolling basis, processing times may vary depending on the volume of applications received.

Response to Inquiries: The OPCC aims to respond to correspondence within 10 working days, though this may take longer during busier periods.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Youth Fund (for reference):

  • Over 12 months, 33 projects were awarded funding totaling £98,000
  • This provides some indication of the Commissioner's commitment to supporting community initiatives

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants are advised to contact the office directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Examples of Funded Projects (Youth Fund)

While the Prevention Fund - Small Grants is a new initiative, examples from the now-closed Youth Fund provide insight into the types of projects the Commissioner supports:

  1. Peterborough Police Box Club - £3,500 to deliver a boxing show for more than 300 young people to showcase how they use their skills in a positive way
  1. Soham Town Council - £3,500 for 12 weekly drop-in bus service sessions for young people to access an outreach support worker
  1. Huntingdon District Council - £714.84 towards a 12-week programme to tackle anti-social behaviour in Huntingdon town centre
  1. Wisbech Housing Related Support - Funding for projects to improve mental health and physical wellbeing of young people, including a weekly fitness van

Key Success Factors

Alignment with Commissioner's Priorities:

  • Projects should demonstrate clear links to crime prevention, reduction of anti-social behaviour, or addressing VAWG
  • Focus on visible, community-based responses to local crime and disorder issues
  • Emphasis on preventive work, particularly with at-risk young people

Community Impact:

  • Projects that empower local communities to contribute to safety
  • Initiatives that increase feelings of public safety
  • Activities that provide swift responses to local crime issues

Strategic Approach:

  • Applications should show how the project helps achieve the Commissioner's aims
  • Consider how POCA funding represents “money back to the community” from criminal activity
  • Demonstrate value for money and sustainable impact

Pre-Application Engagement:

  • The office encourages applicants to contact them to discuss potential applications
  • This suggests that early engagement and relationship building may be beneficial

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Rolling Applications Are Available: Unlike many grant programs, this fund accepts applications throughout the year, allowing organizations to apply when ready rather than waiting for specific deadlines.
  1. Modest Grant Amounts, Quick Local Impact: With grants up to £5,000, this fund is designed for smaller-scale, community-focused interventions that can be implemented relatively quickly and show visible results.
  1. Crime Prevention is Central: All funded work must clearly link to preventing crime, reducing anti-social behaviour, or addressing VAWG. Generic community projects without this focus are unlikely to succeed.
  1. Former Police Officer at the Helm: Commissioner Preston's 30 years of police service means he brings operational policing experience to funding decisions. Applications that demonstrate understanding of practical crime prevention approaches may resonate strongly.
  1. Pre-Application Contact is Encouraged: The office welcomes discussions about potential applications, suggesting that applicants should reach out early to test ideas and ensure alignment with priorities.
  1. Geographic Focus: Projects must serve Cambridgeshire and Peterborough communities. Clear demonstration of local knowledge and community connections is important.
  1. POCA Context Matters: Understanding that this is “criminal proceeds being returned to communities” can help frame applications - showing how the project represents justice and community restoration may be compelling.

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References

All sources.