Safer Communities Fund 2025-2026 - Grants

Safer Communities Fund previous projects

The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 12 October 2025.

Herefordshire Council has developed this grant scheme in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia and West Mercia Police, to support new and existing projects that focus on early prevention, tackling the root causes of crime, vulnerability, exploitation and anti-social behaviour within the county, specifically focusing on children and young people.

Funding awarded under this grant scheme must contribute towards achieving one or more of the following outcomes (Key Performance Indicators KPIs) listed below. You will be expected to demonstrate how you have contributed towards one or more of these KPIs.

Projects should target any of the following outcomes:

• Reducing hate crime perpetrated by children or young people
• Reducing children and young people engaging in anti-social behaviour
• Reducing and/or preventing substance misuse by children and young people
• Reducing children and young people's vulnerability to exploitation.
• Building community resilience

Target support for:

• Teenagers (11-18 year olds)
• SEND - particularly those who may have a need but are currently not met by EHCPs

Target support in:

• South Wye
• Leominster
• Bromyard
• Kingstone
• College Estate
• Churchill Gardens
• Rural areas

The grant scheme is open to not-for-profit organisations across Herefordshire, including schools. Projects can be large or small and cover one specific area or the whole county. Additional weightings will be added for projects delivering against the areas and groups stated above.

• Individuals
• Unconstituted organisations
• Organisations who are registered in the county, but propose to deliver activities and programmes outside Herefordshire

Projects and activities must be held in Herefordshire.

• Projects must start no earlier than 17 November 2025
• Activities and outcomes must have been gained by 31 March 2027

This is a revenue grant scheme. The grant will support a wide range of activities including, but not limited to:

• Events and activities
• Support, mentoring, mediation
• Educational activities
• Access to training and/or employment
• Activities that support/improve mental health and wellbeing
• Advocacy projects and activities

The grant can also cover the following costs as long as they are clearly linked to your project:

• Sessional workers
• Staff costs linked to the project (including employer NI and pension contributions)
• Project staff training costs
• Overheads related to employing staff involved in delivering activities funded through the grant – capped at 15% of direct staff costs
• Transport costs
• Hiring equipment/venue/rooms
• Small items of equipment linked to the project up to £1,500 per item
• Marketing and publicity costs including printing costs
• Translation and interpretation services
• Volunteer expenses
• Participant incentives up to the value of £25 per person, for example vouchers
• Insurance costs specifically linked to the project

Funding cannot be used for:

• Purchases of equipment or assets (over £1,500 per item)
• Maintenance or repair costs of items or equipment purchased with grant funding
• Capital works, renovation or conservation projects
• Purchase of alcohol
• Contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
• Paying someone else to write your application for you
• Profit-making or fundraising activities
• VAT you can reclaim
• Activities that promote religious beliefs
• Statutory activities
• Overseas travel or projects that take place outside of Herefordshire
• Political activities
• Activities that make profits for private gain
• Gifts, or payments for gifts or donations (with the exception of incentives)
• Expenses in respect of litigation, unfair dismissal or other compensation
• Costs incurred by individuals in setting up and contributing towards private pension schemes

You can apply for a grant of up to 100% of the total project costs. Applicants can apply for up to £10,000 for the period mid-November 2025 – 31 March 2026 and a further £20,000 for the period 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2027.

Organisations can only apply for one project up to the maximum grant value of £30,000.

Complete the Safer Communities Fund application form

You should include the following documents with your application:

• Project costs spreadsheet and quotes
• Your organisation's constitution
• A recent redacted bank statement
• Equalities policy
• Safeguarding policy

Email your completed application form and documents to delegatedgrants@herefordshire.gov.uk stating Safer Communities Fund in the subject heading.

Once received, we will acknowledge receipt of your grant application.

Overview of the required stages from the application registration to decision making:

1. Application
2. Eligibility check
3. Funding panel assessment
4. Funding panel recommendations
5. Approval and due diligence
6. Applicants receive decision notification

The grant application will be assessed by a project panel who will make recommendations either for the application to be approved or rejected, or the panel may ask for further information before a decision can be made. This will require approval.

Grant applications are assessed on their individual merit by an independent panel against the grant funding eligibility criteria, the impact of the project and that it demonstrates value for money. All applications are subject to funding availability.

When to start your project

If your application is successful and you are offered a grant, you will receive an offer letter setting out how much grant has been approved and detailing any specific terms and conditions. If you are happy to accept the grant offer and associated conditions, you will need to return a signed copy within 7 working days.

You should not start your project until you have signed the acceptance of grant and returned it to the Delegated Grants Team.