More than two dozen community projects across Cheshire will share £50,000 of seized criminal assets this summer, with several programmes set to help young people in Warrington. Dan Price, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, confirmed that 29 organisations beat over 100 applicants to secure grants of up to £2,000 each through his SWAP Summer Support Fund.
The money arrives as police report nearly double the applications received a year ago. Price described the surge as evidence of “the incredible proactiveness and dedication of communities and organisations across Cheshire.” Successful bids will run for six to eight weeks over the school holidays, delivering water safety sessions, sporting activities, and wellbeing programmes that aim to build confidence and resilience. “Young people and families in Cheshire will have the opportunity to take part in water safety sessions, sporting activities, wellbeing sessions and much more, getting them out of the house and off their screens throughout the school summer holidays,” he said.
The fund – short for Safety, Working Together, Action and Prevention – redirects money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Its summer round returns for a second year, building on a 2025 pilot that supported a similar number of projects. Local groups serving Warrington include Mentell, which will use its grant for community engagement with ex-offenders; SSAFA, the armed forces charity producing resource packs for veterans’ family members in prisons; and the Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme’s Active Buddies project, which supports disabled children through community activities.
County-wide schemes that will also reach Warrington residents feature River Sea and Sense Ltd delivering youth water safety education, the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust offering countryside day visits for disadvantaged children, and Autism Practical Support running an inclusive summer programme for autistic young people. Elsewhere, Willows 301 received backing for a wellbeing programme aimed at families affected by domestic abuse in Runcorn and Widnes, while Primal Mentality CIC will deliver outdoor wellbeing and skills sessions for those at risk of offending or isolation in the same area.
The SWAP Summer Support Fund fits inside the commissioner’s wider Safer Streets Summer initiative, which coordinates patrols, community engagement and youth prevention work alongside Cheshire Constabulary and local councils. A year-round version of the SWAP fund also continues to offer larger grants for projects that tackle crime reduction and community safety.
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