The Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £214,953 (2023-24)
• Annual Income: £245,004 (2023-24)
• Decision Time: Quarterly meetings (April, July, October, January)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Avon and Somerset (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Somerset, and South Gloucestershire)
• Trustees: 3 (all voluntary, unpaid)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 37, Valley Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8QJ

Email: policecommunitytrust@avonandsomerset.police.uk

Phone: 01278646650

Website: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/pct

Overview

The Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust was established in 1999 as a registered charity (number 1076770) to help local communities in Avon and Somerset become safer, better places to live. The Trust funds projects and schemes that work towards reducing crime and the fear of crime in communities. In the financial year ending March 2024, the Trust had an income of £245,004 and distributed £214,953 in grants. The charity is governed by three voluntary trustees who receive no remuneration and meet quarterly to review applications. The Trust's strategic focus centres on diverting young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour, encouraging their growth into responsible young adults, and building good community relations across the police force area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Police Community Trust General Fund

• Grant Amount: Up to £1,000
• Application Method: Online application form
• Decision Schedule: Quarterly trustee meetings (April, July, October, January)
• For community and local voluntary organisations across Avon and Somerset

Road Safety Fund

• Grant Amount: Up to £5,000
• Application Method: Online application form
• Decision Schedule: Quarterly trustee meetings
• Specific focus on road safety initiatives
• Generated through speed awareness courses and reinvested into road safety projects

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on projects that address one or more of the following priorities:

• Youth Crime Prevention: Diverting young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour, encouraging their growth into responsible young adults
• Community Relations: Building good community relations across diverse communities
• Crime Reduction: Reducing crime and the fear of crime in local communities
• Road Safety: Promoting safer roads and reducing road-related incidents

What They Don't Fund

• Individual applicants
• One-off events
• Community SpeedWatch programmes (Road Safety Fund exclusion)
• Speed Indication Device (SID) or Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) purchases (typically funded by local authorities)

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Governance and Leadership

The Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust is governed by three trustees who serve on a voluntary basis with no remuneration, payments, or benefits received from the charity. The trustees meet quarterly to review grant applications and make funding decisions. Meetings are scheduled for April, July, October, and January each year. The Trust operates with no trading subsidiaries and employs no staff earning above £60,000. As of the latest Charity Commission report, the charity's reporting is up to date and compliant with regulatory requirements.

How to Apply to The Avon And Somerset Police Community Trust

How to Apply

Applications to the Police Community Trust General Fund and Road Safety Fund are made through online application forms available on the Avon and Somerset Police website. The application process takes approximately 25 minutes to complete. Applicants must be community or local voluntary organisations operating in the Avon and Somerset police force area, which includes Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), North Somerset, Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

Check the Avon and Somerset Police website for current application status, as applications may close periodically between funding rounds.

Decision Timeline

Trustees meet quarterly to review applications. Meetings are typically scheduled for:

• April
• July
• October
• January

The specific timeframe from application submission to decision notification is not publicly documented, but decisions are made at these quarterly meetings.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented on the Trust's website or in available materials. Applicants should contact the Trust directly at policecommunitytrust@avonandsomerset.police.uk for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities, successful applications should:

Demonstrate Clear Crime Prevention or Community Safety Outcomes: The Trust's core purpose is “reducing crime and the fear of crime in communities.” Applications should articulate how the project will contribute to making communities safer.

Target Young People: Given the Trust's specific aim to divert young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour, there is clear priority for youth-focused initiatives.

Build Community Relations: Applications should demonstrate how the project fosters better relationships within communities or between communities and police.

Serve Communities Across the Police Force Area: Projects should clearly identify which communities in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Somerset, or South Gloucestershire will benefit.

Align with Quarterly Decision Cycles: Understanding that trustees review applications quarterly helps applicants plan submission timing and project start dates.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Youth Focus is Important: Projects targeting young people and diverting them from crime and anti-social behaviour align with the Trust's core objectives
• Clear Crime Prevention Link Required: Articulate specific, measurable outcomes related to reducing crime or fear of crime—generic community benefits may not be sufficient
• Modest Grant Amounts: With grants typically up to £1,000 (General Fund) or £5,000 (Road Safety Fund), applications should propose proportionate, achievable projects
• Quarterly Decision Making: Plan application timing around April, July, October, and January trustee meetings
• Community and Voluntary Sector Only: Individual applicants and one-off events are not supported
• Geographic Eligibility Matters: Projects must serve communities within the Avon and Somerset police force area
• Check Application Status: Applications are not always open—verify current status before preparing an application

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Norman Family Charitable Trust
• The Nisbet Trust
• The Pople Charitable Trust
• West Of England Sport Trust (wesport)
• The Nani Huyu Charitable Trust
• Spielman Charitable Trust
• The Roper Family Charitable Trust
• The Portishead Nautical Trust
• Sir John And Lady Heathcoat Amory's Charitable Trust
• Quartet Community Foundation

References

• Police Community Trust | Avon and Somerset Police - Official Police Community Trust page
• Police Community Trust General Fund | Avon and Somerset Police - General Fund details
• Road Safety Fund | Avon and Somerset Police - Road Safety Fund information
• Police Community Trust – OPCC for Avon and Somerset - Police and Crime Commissioner information
• Charity Commission - THE AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE COMMUNITY TRUST - Official charity registration and financial data