West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has agreed on £3.2 million of funding to support victims of crime.
The cash will be spent on several schemes across the West Midlands that will help the Commissioner achieve the key objectives of the Police and Crime Plan.
Among others, the cash will benefit victims of domestic violence, those who have suffered sexual abuse and businesses that have been hit by cyber crime.
The money, which has come from Ministry of Justice grants, will also be invested in projects that help offenders turn their backs on a life of crime.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “This is one of the most rewarding parts of my job: giving worthwhile schemes like these the funding they need to flourish.
“This money will make a real difference to so many people’s lives across the West Midlands. It will help support and strengthen some of the most vulnerable members of our society, as well as guiding those who have followed the wrong path to a life away from crime.
“The projects will help fight knife crime, violence, online fraud and everything in between and I am confident it will help achieve real results in the West Midlands.”
When it came to deciding which schemes received the funding, the Commissioner was aided by expert staff in his office and his ground-breaking Victims Commission.
Some of the projects to benefit include:
- £59,078 to Crisis Point for practical and emotional support to victims of sexual abuse in Walsall and Wolverhampton.
- £102,498 to Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre for rape and sexual violence support to vulnerable groups of BME and girls from the age of 11.
- £50,000 to West Midlands IDVA Service for support of high-risk victims and survivors of domestic violence.
- £1,038,920 to Victim Support to offer all victims of crime a first assessment.
- £1million to the Birmingham Youth Promise employment scheme.
- £10,000 to the ongoing knife bin scheme to get one in every West Midlands local authority area.
- £20,000 to Hawk Construction to help ex-offenders find work in the construction industry.
- £40,000 to the small project funds to help different community groups across the region.
