Turning Proceeds of Crime into something good
21st November 2024
Since 2014 we have been managing the Essex Police Proceeds of Crime Matched Funding Scheme (POCA). Under the Scheme, all donations into the High Sheriff’s Fund or to set up individual charitable funds, can be matched with 50% from the monies we receive from Essex Police Proceeds of Crime. The only restriction is that the grantmaking from these Funds must support projects or organisations whose work is contributing to community safety in the county.
To date, the value of the endowed funds set up with support from the matched funding scheme is £1.5 million.
B-J Harrington, Chief Constable at Essex Police said, “It is amazing to see the difference that the Scheme has made and because the funds set up with ECF are invested, they will grow and continue to give money away in the future.
“By confiscating the proceeds of criminal activity, we are making it harder than ever to profit from crime.
“Overall, crime is falling in Essex, but we can’t work alone, and we rely on the support of all our communities to keep that trend going.
“Whether it’s supporting victims, getting children and young people into sport, or giving families a safe place to stay, I’ve seen the extraordinary work of local charities. Together, we are making our county an even safer place to live and work.”
Below are examples of local charities that have received support from the Funds set up with matched funding from the POCA Scheme:
Coach Core Foundation is a charity that aims to improve the life-chances of 16–24-year-olds in Essex and across the UK, who traditionally may experience barriers, discrimination and lack of opportunities. They work with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and through a sports apprenticeship programme, help them to access the skills, confidence and knowledge to unlock meaningful education and employment opportunities.
By training the young people as community activator sports coaches, they will become role-models delivering thousands of inclusive sports coaching sessions in Essex. They estimate this will help around 220,000 people to get and stay active.
Employers that are working with Coach Core to deliver the apprenticeships in Essex include, Volleyball England, Southend Leisure and Tennis Court, Prestige Sports, Hadleigh Park, Colchester United Football Club, Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre, Brentwood Leisure Trust, Basildon Sporting Village, Red Balloon, Essex Professional Coaching and Canvey Island Youth Project. They provide a range of sports to people in their community such as football, trampolining, gymnastics, rugby, cricket, tennis and dance.
One third of Coach Core’s applicants live in the top 20% most deprived areas of the UK, many are also from BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) communities or have disabilities which may make it harder to obtain apprenticeships through more common channels.
80% of the apprentices taken on by previous programmes have gone on to secure employment or a place in further education. Even those who did not, benefitted from the programme by being shown positive life role models and by getting active. These benefits combine to prevent young people from falling through the cracks and into dangerous peer groups, risking exploitation.
The Jack Elliott Fund gave £823 to support the latest round of apprenticeships, ensuring that even more young people are given a greater chance in life, and that they can, in turn, help to coach people in Essex to get active.
Kids Inspire is a Chelmsford-based charity set up in 2007 that provides recovery support to children, adolescents and their families who have experienced trauma, helping them to become healthy adults who lead complete and fulfilling lives.
The charity supports children from across Essex that are struggling with a wide range of issues, including mental health due to abuse, neglect, bullying and other trauma. At the heart of the therapies, are the children themselves, because Kids Inspire tailor the sessions and their approach to the individual’s needs.
Support is given on a one-to-one basis, in groups, in school or wherever there is a safe space for the individual. This early intervention helps to prevent issues from escalating, and where young people can be vulnerable to the influence of crime and gangs.
Kids Inspire provide the children and adolescents with practical tools to help them manage their behaviours and emotions when they feel overwhelmed. This enables them to build positive relationships and overcome barriers to learning, helping them to stay in education and pursue their full potential.
Support for these intervention services came from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Charitable Fund, FW Charitable Fund and the Police Property Act Fund. In the sessions, young people were taught how to regulate their emotions by using different methods including breathing exercises and arts and crafts sessions.
Statistics: April 2023 – April 2024
- 4,532 children and their families received support
- 11,163 is the total people Kids Inspire reached through their work
- In the past six years, 2,944 people received trauma informed practice training
The anti-knife crime charity, The Ben Kinsella Trust, was formed in 2008 to tackle the rising instances of knife crime occurring in the UK, especially affecting young people.
With over fifty thousand “sharp instrument” incidents reported to the police across England and Wales in a 12-month period, there is a clear need for community safety initiatives.
The Trust runs workshops across the country to educate young people about the consequences and impact of carrying knives. The Trust has been partnering with Essex Police since 2021 to target and engage those who are most vulnerable to knife crime, in their local programmes and workshops.
Thanks to grants awarded from the Leeze Charitable Fund and the Police Property Act Fund, we were able to give £3,600 to enable the Trust to deliver workshops in Colchester, Basildon and Southend. As a result of this and other similar knife crime prevention workshops delivered in schools, 86% of the young people involved pledged to never carry a knife.
To support their workshops, the Trust uses a purpose-built exhibition and trained actors. In conjunction with theatrical presentations, feature films and interactive displays, they provide online resources, national campaigns, and programmes to reach thousands of young people, helping to highlight the dangers of knife crime.
Read more stories here:
Cara (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) is based in Colchester, and provides support to children and young people who have experienced sexual violence or child sexual abuse.
Changing Lives offer social, sporting and work experiences that will install confidence and motivate young people by providing them with opportunities and pathways towards a positive future.
Children Heard and Seen (CHAS) provide online support groups to children in Essex who have a parent in prison.
Kool Carers South East knows that young carers can be particularly vulnerable to crime, and wants to ensure that they are knowledgeable about how to keep themselves, and those they care for, safe.
Market Field Farm support young people with special educational needs and learning difficulties gain valuable skills experience and secure paid employment in the future.
Next Chapter, founded in Colchester, is a domestic abuse charity providing a refuge (including a nursery) and outreach community-based services across North and Mid-Essex.
North Avenue Youth Centre has been providing young people in Chelmsford with a safe place to go and interesting activities to take part in for nearly 25 years.
Off the Streets supports rough sleepers getting into independent living, as well as helping with issues that might contribute to becoming homeless, such as drug, alcohol and gambling addiction.
Ormiston Families work across Essex supporting those affected by the imprisonment of a family member.
Safe Steps works in Southend advocating for survivors and those at risk of domestic abuse, through emergency accommodation, counselling, and a helpline.
Sanctus in Chelmsford, is a place of refuge for those experiencing homelessness and seeking a warm space and a hot meal.
Together Free Foundation is a charity that works towards ending modern slavery and human trafficking with a focus on Southend, Chelmsford and Colchester where they have in the region of 30 partner organisations in each location, including Essex Police.
UTurn4Support is a hub of advice and support for young people aged 10-18, which is provided free of charge and confidentially. Their outreach work helps to publicise the dangers of knife crime, and county lines.
Volunteering Matters is a national organisation that works with local partners to bring people together to overcome society’s most complex issues and build stronger communities through the power of volunteering.