Southenr-Co-op-sign-cropped-600x396

Community projects in the south of England have received more than £135,000 of funding from Southern Co-op to tackle the causes of crime.

Through the second round of the Safer Neighbourhood Fund to help combat crime, 18 projects have received support from Southern Co-op.

The groups that benefitted from the funding include: STAR Recovery, a network of churches and other partner organisations which deliver appropriate support for those affected by addiction/poor mental health/compulsive behaviours; Step Together Volunteering, which provides 1-2-1 and peer support sessions to young people in Bristol and Sixty One, which runs community-based meeting spaces for ex-prisoners as well as mentoring services.

Gemma Lacey, director sustainability & communications at Southern Co-op, said: “We have tried our best to support as many community projects as possible in this latest round of funding and are pleased to see such a passionate group of organisations all doing their best to help people in need.

“Projects include healthcare and accommodation for the homeless, skills building for offenders, help for young people at risk or already involved in crime, and much more.

“The majority of people don’t choose a life of crime so we hope these programmes will give them the chance they need to break out of the vicious circle which so often has a tragic ending.”

The Safer Neighbourhood Fund has been co-ordinated with the help of Neighbourly, a giving platform that helps businesses make a positive impact in their communities by donating volunteer time, money, and surplus products.