16 Nov 2021
On Thursday, November 11th, Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn, held several engagement appointments in Haverfordwest, during which he met with a number of community groups who received funding through his Participatory Budgeting initiative along with an opening event for Café No5.
In 2020-2021, the PCC invested £140,000 in the initiative which saw £10,000 being committed to each neighbourhood policing area in Dyfed-Powys.
Participatory Budgeting is a way of giving communities a greater say in how money is spent in their local areas. During the 2020-2021 financial year, successful virtual community Participatory Budgeting events were held across each of the fourteen neighbourhood policing areas within the Dyfed-Powys Police force area. Community groups applying for funding were asked to present a video displaying their project ideas, and community representatives decided whom should receive the funding. Over 100 community groups benefitted from funds of over £200,000.
When in Haverfordwest on Friday, the Police and Crime Commissioner met with representatives from several community groups that received some of the funding, including Get the boys a lift cafe, Haverfordwest High school and the VC Gallery.
Get the boys a lift café received funding to ensure that they were still able to offer crucial counselling support throughout lockdown, despite their café being closed to the public. Haverfordwest High received funding to purchase radio equipment and studio in the School for their pupils as part of their after school Friday Wellbeing sessions.
PCC Dafydd Llywelyn said, “Last year, I committed to fund this new and innovative approach to community funding as I think it’s vital that local residents have a say in how money is spent in their local area.
“They are best placed to work with the police, and indeed other partner agencies, to identify where the money is needed and what would most benefit the local communities. I thoroughly enjoy going to meeting with each of these groups to see for myself how the local community is benefiting from this funding.”
ENDS
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Ffion Davies
