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:

Changing Lives is a charity with locations in Colchester and Harlow, that uses physical activity to improve the lives of young people, particularly migrants and refugees, and prevent them becoming involved in crime.

They ran a programme of sports coaching workshops in Harlow and Colchester, which reached over 1,000 young people. The Mersea Homes Charitable Fund helped to ensure that these classes were able to go ahead. The session leaders were able to give back to their community by helping the young people who attended to start on self-improvement journeys the same way they had.

The two areas where the group operates are in places of deprivation, where young people are vulnerable to the influence of criminals.

There can be significant social and emotional barriers to reintegrating into the community and this can make them especially vulnerable. It is important not just for these young people to have good role models, but to have space in which to put their motivation into action.

Changing Lives has had such a positive impact that they have been featured on the news (ITV and BBC) and recognised by the National Diversity Awards. In a single year, they have supported approximately nine thousand total participants, 1209 of whom were refugees. Early intervention, and access to enrichment and upskilling classes, as well as multiple holiday sporting clubs means that individuals are supported to reach their full potential in a safer community.

Since Changing Lives formed its football club two years ago, they have been overwhelmed by the number of young people wanting to join. The football club provides them with a chance to socialise, have fun and exercise while forming long-lasting bonds through the medium of sport, all for free.

The team now compete against others in weekly games. Being part of the team and getting involved is motivating them to succeed in life and to choose self-improvement over involvement with gang activity. Changing Lives continues to expand to meet the need at both sites in Harlow and Colchester, so that they can bring more vulnerable young people into their sporting family.

David Simmons, the club manager, said of their work, “It shines such a positive light on refugees and migrants who go through so much”.

Safe Steps, based in Southend, supports women and families who have experienced domestic abuse, providing a safe place and the services needed to begin their recovery journey. Though it is not always visible, domestic violence is a problem that can have far-reaching consequences.

Average statistics show that of the domestic homicides that occurred (year ending 2022), 33% of female victims were killed by a current or ex-partner (ONS).

Thanks to funding from the Ball Family Fund and the River City Fund managed by ECF, Safe Steps were able to continue a project supporting families in Southend who have experienced domestic abuse, with services that are client-led and trauma-informed. In a single year they were able to respond to over 5,000 calls from people in crisis, as well as welcome 30 families into their refuge. The group are also reaching out to schools in Southend to provide ‘Healthy Relationship’ workshops to nearly 1,400 young people.

A second grant from the River City Fund allowed the group to set up a consultation room where families can seek refuge. The refuge has been well used as a place for one-to-one support for both women and children and as a place to discuss other needs such as finding school places and making housing applications. It is a safe space that helps vulnerable visitors in both the short and long-term.

Violence against women tends to worsen during a pregnancy, affecting about 6% of pregnant women, and 40% of homelessness in the UK is, in some form, a result of domestic abuse. Safe Steps are working hard to provide specialist services to those who have experienced domestic violence. This can be in the form of emergency accommodation for people in danger, advocacy and counselling for long-term recovery, or prevention and awareness training for the wider community. The group has a vision for a brighter future in which not only are individuals living free from abuse, but their community and support networks are safer than ever before.

Story from a survivor:

Mia had been in a relationship with her abuser for 20 years, experiencing emotional and psychological abuse throughout. She explained that she felt she had lost herself and had limited family and friends around her to provide support. She therefore didn’t know how to live without her abuser.

Mia engaged in one-to-one support with her Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) and began to identify her abuser’s controlling behaviours. She subsequently ended their relationship, and support was provided regarding the stalking she experienced for months following the separation.

Mia continued to engage with her IDVA and realised that she was struggling to identify boundaries with her now ex and had very low self-esteem. Mia received counselling from Safe Steps and engaged well in each session. At the beginning, she struggled with sharing her own experiences, however, as weeks went by her confidence increased. She said, “Where I used to avoid eye contact, I held my head high”.

Following her group therapy sessions, Mia said, “The support I received has made me feel like I’m not alone and I can reach out for help if I need it. Also, that what I experienced is real and not in my imagination. I spent many years without any support. If I had sought help earlier, I could have recovered quicker and been able to put in boundaries sooner.”

As a result of the support she received from Safe Steps, Mia was able to start a new job and was successful in a getting a promotion at work.

As well as one to one sessions, Safe Steps organises a wide range of activities for women and children affected by domestic violence, including play groups, craft sessions, self-esteem groups, days out, recovery programmes and counselling.

Market Field Farm is a charity formed in 2020 that operates across Colchester and Tendring. By delivering skills training in a working environment, they aim to improve the employment skills, opportunities and broader safety of young people with additional needs.

The young people who benefit from this service may have learning disabilities, autism or other mental health issues and may struggle to find similar chances elsewhere. They are also vulnerable to being victims of crime, bullied or targeted by gangs.

Market Field Farm received £1,200 from the Minter Family Community Safety Fund with ECF, enabling them to continue providing training in hospitality, horticulture, maintenance and administration. The group also has a gardening service through which they undertake conservation work and help to maintain community green spaces.

One of the young people now working for Market Field Farm started as one of their mentees in 2021. He was experiencing frustration and challenging behaviour in school and college following a diagnosis of ADHD. Staff described him as “happy and gaining confidence” during his time working with them, and that led to them asking him to join the team permanently as a mentor for other young people who needed support. He is now a mature and hard-working young man, inspiring others to talk about their difficulties in the same way he did.

According to statistics:

Children with disabilities are more likely to be victims of violent crime than non-disabled children. For example, children with ADHD are more than four times more likely to be victims of violence than non-disabled children.
13% of disabled people aged 16–24 have experienced violence, compared to 8% of non-disabled people.
In 2021/22, there were 11,224 disability hate crimes reported to the police in England and Wales, which was a 25% increase from the previous year. Over half of the reports involved violence.
Disabled people often prefer to report incidents to third party services, such as helplines and charities, rather than to the police

Turning Proceeds of Crime into something good

Below are examples of local charities that have received support from the Funds set up with matched funding from the POCA Scheme:

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