A share of £200k is up for grabs for community groups in Berkshire working to make their area safer.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, is accepting applications for the Community Fund, which supports voluntary and community groups that help to prevent crime and keep communities safe.

Proceeds are raised through seized items from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owner.

The fund is open for applications twice a year for projects that help achieve the objectives of the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan.

Former winners of the fund include Family Friends in Windsor and Maidenhead, which provides short-term support for families facing difficult times. The organisation won £3,000 as part of the fund in 2019, which was used to provide vital support for those facing domestic abuse, parenting issues and stress and isolation.

Another winner was Parents and Children Together, which runs Alana House, a community centre for women in Reading. After receiving £5,000 worth of funding in 2019, Alana House opened its community café which provides the opportunity for women to obtain qualifications in Food Hygiene.

Matthew Barber, elected as PCC in 2021, has three key objectives for the Thames Valley Region, to protect communities by recruiting more police officers, to protect people from the most serious offences, and to ensure public confidence in the police.

Successful applicants will be invited to attend a presentation event hosted by PCC Matthew Harber and chief constable of Thames Valley Police Jason Hogg.