PROJECTS throughout Gwent which aim to use cash seized from criminals to make a positive difference in their communities are celebrating their share of nearly £157,000 awarded by the Police and Crime Commissioner today.

A total of 40 projects are sharing in the £156,951 awarded by Gwent PCC Ian Johnston from his Partnership Fund. The Partnership Fund grant scheme is funded by the proceeds of crime awarded to the police and from the sale of unclaimed found property.

Five hundred applications amounting to a total of £1.25 million were submitted under the latest round from charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in Gwent involved in activities that have a positive impact on their communities.

Groups who applied for a share of the funding had to demonstrate the positive impact their project would have on their community while contributing to delivering the Commissioner’s priorities for Gwent which include reducing and preventing crime; taking more effective action to reduce anti-social behaviour and protecting people from serious harm.

Each group was able to apply for funding up to the region of £10,000.

Among the successful projects announced today is the Tillery Combat Mixed Martial Arts Academy based in the heart of Blaina.

Using sport, fitness, discipline and self-defence, the Tillery Combat MMA helps to divert the most disaffected and disengaged people in the community away from a life of crime and substance abuse. Their award of £5,000 will be used to kit out the gym with new equipment and also to cover the travels costs to and from local competitions for those who can’t afford it.

The Eden Gate charity in Newport provides a safe, dry and warm place for people who may ordinarily be sleeping on the streets.

In order to provide even more of a positive impact in the communities where they work, the Eden Gate project will now spend their award of £3,615 on new air beds, bedding and pumps to help even more rough sleepers in and around Newport.

The Lylac Ridge Animal Learning Centre in Risca, provides animal assisted therapy and alternative education for children, young adults, adults with learning difficulties, those excluded from school and offenders.

Lylac Ridge will spend their award of nearly £8,000 on a project to develop community land, educational signs and a picnic area.

Ian Johnstone, Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, said: "It's fitting to see money recovered from criminals going back to benefit local communities.”

Projects awarded funding are; Thee Solitaires Marching Jazz Band, £1000; Story Telling Project, £5000; Langstone Youth Group, £500; Eden Gate Newport, £3615; Show Racism the Red Card, £9250; BRfm Radio Ltd, £6648; NYAS, £5000; PACE, £10000; Duke of Edinburgh Award Wales, £10,000; Blaenau Gwent Young Stars Musical Theatre Company, £3200; St Joseph’s Amateur Boxing Club, £5000; Newport City Council, £4,000; Brynithel RFC, £2600; International Friendship Group, £250; 1st Blackwood Brownies, £500; Waunlwyd Junior Football Club, £2000; Tillery Combat MMA Academy , £5000; Building Bridges in partnership with MAGIC, £10000; 10th Newport East (St John’s) Brownies, £500; Gwent Cub Scouts, £500; RED Community, £10000; Communities First Ebbw Fach Clusters, £9200; Lylac Ridge, £7988.44; Woodlands Field Ltd, £3000; WALK Newport, £1500; Torfaen & Blaenau Gwent Mind, £2500; Village Enterprise Wales Ltd, £2000; MARS, £2000; Christchurch Newport , £3000; The Neon Centre, £1500; Toppers School of Dance & Drama, £2,000; Aber Valley YMCA, £2000, Newport City Radio Community Interest Co, £1000; St Dials Community Action Group, £1000; Scent and Sensibility, £1000; Shirenewton Scout Group, £2000; Classique Fund Raising Tea, £5000 ; St David’s Hospice Care, £1200; Build – A department of NLCC, £5000; Torfaen Legal High Forum, £9500.