OVER £500,000 AWARDED TO COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SUPPORT VIOLENCE REDUCTION
Published 17 September 2025 at 1:26pm
More than half a million pounds has been awarded to local community-based organisations to tackle violence in the latest round of the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit’s (VRU) Community Grants Fund.The fund was open to applications from community groups, social enterprises, and non-profit organisations across the region who were able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 to support initiatives for 12 months that help prevent violence and support people.
A total of 127 applications were received and 22 organisations were successful in being awarded funding totalling £504,826.
The successful recipients are based across the whole of South Yorkshire and projects funded met at least one of five key themes:
• Reducing / Preventing Knife Crime
• Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls
• Coaching and Mentoring to Reduce Violence
• Diversion away from violent crime via sporting activity
• Racial Disproportionality in Serious Youth Violence
Successful applicants are selected based on key criteria, including clear objectives, how the funding will be spent and their monitoring and evaluation processes.
As part of their funding agreement, grant recipients must provide monitoring reports to the VRU to ensure accountability, transparency and impact measurement across South Yorkshire.
South Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kilvinder Vigurs, said: “Community-led action is vital in tackling the root causes of violence, and these grants will empower local organisations to make a real difference.
“From mentoring young people to addressing knife crime and supporting women and girls, these projects reflect the creativity, compassion and determination of South Yorkshire’s communities.
“By investing in their ideas and energy, we are not only helping to prevent violence today but also building safer, stronger neighbourhoods for the future.
“Community organisations are the backbone of our efforts to reduce violence and build safer neighbourhoods and I am looking forward to visiting all of the 22 projects over the next 12 months to see how they have spent the money and the difference they are making in communities.”
The VRU takes a public health approach to tackling the root causes of violence, and this funding round is designed to empower local organisations that are making a real difference in their communities.
The grant funding started on 1 September and projects must be delivered within 12 months. The Deputy Mayor will visit each of the projects over the next year.
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