Wigan community groups can bid for a share of cash claimed back from criminals

Elite Community Hub

Charities and community groups across Greater Manchester can bid for a share of cash claimed back from criminals.

Money seized from criminals and distributed to police forces via the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) is invested into communities in our area - and the latest bidding window is open throughout January.

Previous successful bids have been given to community initiatives such as Pure Insight, a peer-led project supporting 175 care leavers aged 16–28 across Greater Manchester, and First Kick Foundation, which works with primary schools in Bury to deliver youth engagement and empowerment programmes.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe, who leads GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, said: "It is fitting that the money we seize from proceeds of crime is being used to help fight, prevent and reduce crime, keep people safe, and care for victims, which ultimately makes Greater Manchester a better place to live, work and visit.

“Keeping the people of Greater Manchester safe from crime is our main priority, and this is a way we can give back, through officers’ hard work, we are in a really strong position where we continue to strip criminals of their finances which are often used to further crime in our communities.”

The latest funding programme saw 12 groups benefit in September, including a community boxing and sports club in Bolton.

Elite Community Hub CIC on Wordsworth Street provides free boxing training for over 350 children and teenagers a week, free veterans’ fitness classes, over-50s wellbeing sessions, and SEN-inclusive boxing to support all members of the community.

They also put on free half-term holiday clubs for children, including meals and activities during school breaks.

They plan to build a new kitchen and music room to attract more youngsters to take part in their outreach activities.

Project Manager Kallum Wallbank said: “We have worked with ARIS and GMP, and many of the youngsters who come to the club were referred in that way as well through youth agencies.

“We work with young offenders and want to attract those who may not want to be part of the boxing club.

“That is why we want to focus on music and educating young people on nutrition.”

Scott Mitchell, Director and Head Coach, said: “Our ethos has always been about taking young people who are often labelled as ‘uncoachable’ and helping them become employable adults.

"We do what we do because many of us were once those young people ourselves.

"Boxing gave us structure, discipline and direction, and we’re committed to making sure that same diversion is there for the next generation.”

Money seized from criminals is invested into community projects across Greater Manchester through our ARIS scheme.

The latest funding programme saw 12 groups benefit in September.

Inspector Nicholas Bonson said: “Kallum and The Elite Community Hub gave a passionate account of their history of positive engagement and diversion with young people of Bolton.

“They articulated their future plans and demonstrated how ARIS funds would sustain these in future years.

“The new projects include offering music and cooking provisions and lessons, as well as resources to access educational materials.

“These will be free and use both new and established referral pathways from key partners.

“The provision of meaningful diversion, life skills and mentorship will a valuable asset to both individuals and local communities in the spirit of the ARIS principles.”

Charities and community groups can now submit their bids that will be judged on:

• Reducing/preventing crime and ASB
• Keeping people safe and caring for victims
• Supporting community projects
• Reinvestment into further asset recovery

The bidding window is open until 25 January with more details here - Giving back: Investing in our community