TEN community organisations and charities from across Merseyside are to benefit from a share of £43,000 to keep their communities safe.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy today announced the groups that will benefit from the fourth round of funding from her Police Property Act (PPA) fund.

Ms Kennedy awards the funds to community groups and organisations which help to deliver her policing and crime priorities and which are working to make neighbourhoods across Merseyside safer places to live.

Ten organisations will share the funding which totals more than £43,000.

Today’s announcements brings the amount now awarded to worthwhile causes since the Ms Kennedy was elected in November 2012 to £155,000.

Ms Kennedy said: “I am delighted to today announce a further round of funding for community groups and organisations that are carrying out really worthwhile work across Merseyside.

“Once again, I was impressed by the enthusiasm demonstrated by these organisations and their commitment to making a difference in their communities. This funding will help them deliver their important work.

“These grants provide a vital contribution to my aim of reducing anti-social behaviour, preventing crime and keeping people safe.”

Among the projects that have received funding are a range of initiatives that work to divert young people away from anti-social behaviour, a grant to provide culturally-sensitive programmes supporting victims of sexual offences and a community centre which received funding to develop community cohesion and develop a youth mentoring scheme.

In October, Jane awarded £35,000 to charities and organisations which were working to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour during Halloween and Bonfire Night.

A total of 25 community groups shared the funding which was designed to help them divert young people away from dangerous activities and keep communities safe during one of the busiest times of the year for the police.

Among the successful organisations working with young people are the Kirkdale Neighbourhood Co Ltd, who were awarded £5,000 to deliver outreach diversion services in hotspot areas, the ADHD Foundation who received £4,860 to provide training on managing emotions and substance and alcohol misuse among young people in Sefton who are at risk of offending and the Chinese Community Centre Pagoda who were given £5,000 to engage with young people in Liverpool South.

Other initiatives that have received funding include HEAT, which was awarded £4,940 to deliver culturally sensitive Freedom Programmes for victims and survivors of sexual abuse, Altru Arts CIC which received a grant of £3,300 to deliver creative workshops across Knowsley on anti-social behaviour, crime and alcohol and Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre in Sefton, which received £5,000 to develop a street outreach programme targeting young people at risk of offending.

Organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000 from the PPA Fund, which awards money raised by the sale of unclaimed stolen goods or property recovered by the police to worthwhile causes.