Resources: Funding focus - Connected

What will it fund? It is designed to kick-start new initiatives, boost ongoing projects and build capacity for grass-roots organisations. Projects more likely to receive funding are mentoring schemes, training projects or diversionary activities for young people. The fund will also support services for victims and witnesses of gun crime and families of disengaged young people, and training, development and support for local people to enable them to engage in decision-making. Activities such as films or videos on gun or knife crime or educational resources for schools are less likely to be awarded funding in this particular round.

Who can apply? Groups must be small, locally managed voluntary organisations in England. They must meet one of three criteria, including that they work with young people involved in, or at risk of becoming involved in, gun or knife crime and gangs, or that they support the involvement of local people, especially young people aged 16 to 25, in decision-making processes around law and order issues. Projects in high gun-crime areas such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Bristol will be given priority and groups must have a letter of support from their local council or police force, school, or a faith group or voluntary organisation.