The Cornwall fund turning seized cash into community grants

Money that once sat in a police evidence store is about to pay for skateboard coaching, drug diversion counselling and free boxing sessions across Cornwall. A new round of the Police Property Act Fund has just opened, and community groups have a matter of weeks to put in a bid for a share of it.

Where the money comes from

The fund is administered by Cornwall Community Foundation on behalf of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), and it works a little differently to most grant pots. It is built from money generated through the sale of property seized by police and authorised for disposal by the courts, under the Police (Property) Regulations, the statutory rule for dealing with cash and belongings that end up in police possession through criminal charges, or that members of the public simply hand in.

This year’s focus is on grassroots organisations tackling the root causes of anti-social behaviour, and on people who may be struggling to find a positive way forward.

What this year’s round is looking for

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise groups in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly delivering diversionary activities that steer people away from drugs-related anti-social behaviour, rather than simply responding after it has happened. The three examples given are a youth diversion project running supervised evening activities in a known trouble spot at the times incidents most often occur, a mentoring scheme working directly with young people already known to police for low-level anti-social behaviour, and an early-intervention project tackling street drinking and disorder linked to alcohol or substance misuse. Applicants are encouraged to point to local anti-social behaviour data, or a priority flagged by their Community Safety Partnership, to show the project answers a real, evidenced need.

Grants have to be spent within 12 months of receipt, with an end-of-grant report due once the money has gone. Funded projects are expected to start from mid-December 2026 and finish by 1 December 2027.

How to apply

Applications in Cornwall are open now through Cornwall Community Foundation. The deadline is 21 October 2026, with an assessment panel sitting in early December, grant decisions announced mid-December, and payments estimated for the same time. Groups with questions can contact Grants Officer Lisa Dymond on [email protected]. The fund also supports projects in Devon, run separately through Devon Community Foundation.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “The Police Property Act Fund transforms the proceeds of crime into opportunities that benefit local people and communities.

“By supporting organisations that work directly with those most at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, or who need help to overcome challenges in their lives, we can make a lasting difference. These local groups understand the needs of their communities and are often best placed to provide early support and positive opportunities.”

What last year’s grants achieved

In 2025, £37,750 was split between eight organisations. West Cornwall Women’s Aid used its grant on the 16 Days of Activism programme, which engaged more than 1,300 people through community events and reached over 30,000 more online. First Light South West put its funding into HappyHealthyLove, a digital prevention programme giving young people, parents and educators information on healthy relationships, consent and abuse prevention, which attracted more than 67,000 webpage views.

St Petrocs has previously used the fund for its Freshfield Drug Diversionary Project, helping people experiencing homelessness reduce substance misuse through counselling, skills training and community activities. Bodmin Amateur Boxing Club used a grant to provide free sessions and equipment for young people who might otherwise not be able to take part, with those involved reporting better wellbeing, stronger community connections and less likelihood of drifting into anti-social behaviour.

Tamas Haydu, chief executive of Cornwall Community Foundation, said: “By investing in local organisations that understand their communities and are best placed to make a difference, we can help create positive opportunities, build stronger communities and, ultimately, contribute to happier, safer places across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

A teenager who’d never held a skateboard before

An earlier round of the fund gives a sense of what the money can do close up. Mount Hawke Youth and Community Group received £3,500 in 2023 to run skateboard coaching for 16 and 17 year olds living in a homeless hostel in Newquay, most of them young men who had been drawn into drugs, alcohol or anti-social behaviour, some through county lines, and were considered at high risk of slipping back into it.

Several of them kept turning up to skate long after their funded sessions ended. One of the group, a young refugee who had never seen a skateboard in his life, was buzzing just watching the others ride. Within a couple of sessions he was attempting basic moves on the ramp transitions and banks, grinning the whole time, even though his English was patchy enough that his coach had to help him order food in the café.

📷Mount Hawke Youth and Community Group used a Police Property Act Fund grant to provide skateboard coaching and positive opportunities for vulnerable young people. Credit: Mount Hawke Youth and Community Group