COMMUNITY groups are being urged to take advantage of £12,000 funding being made available for projects in Cardigan.

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has committed £10,000 to each neighbourhood policing area across the force, with communities themselves able to have their say about which projects should benefit.

A further £2,000 has been committed to the fund by Wales and West Housing.

Any community group can bid for a share of the grant, as long as they would use the money to improve community safety and promote a healthier, safer place to live.

People living in the area will then have the chance to vote on which projects receive a share of the funds.

PCC Mr Llywelyn said: “I have committed to fund this new and innovative approach to community funding as I think it’s vital that local residents have a say in how money is spent in their local area.

“They are best placed to work with the police, and indeed other partner agencies, to identify where the money is needed and what would most benefit the local communities.

“I urge all the various community groups in Cardigan to consider the funding that I have made available, and to contact the South Ceredigion Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss ideas, so that the whole community can work together to improve community safety”.

Over a period of time, each of the 14 Neighbourhood Policing Teams across the Dyfed-Powys force area will receive £10,000 each to be spent in the area they serve, with the communities themselves being the key decision makers.

Superintendent Ifan Charles, Divisional Commander for Carmarthenshire and lead on participatory budgeting in force, said: “Participatory budgeting is a way of giving communities a greater say in how their community evolves.

“Problem solving to find long term solutions to solve the issues that cause communities the greatest harm, is at the core of our new neighbourhood policing model.

“Through informed community engagement and problem solving, the new neighbourhood structure should reduce the long-term harm for our communities and with that, demand on our response officers, but this will only work if our communities and partners are equally engaged.

“Participatory budgeting has worked really well elsewhere and I’m really excited to lead the introduction of this innovative approach here.”

The closing date for grant applications is November 24. Anyone who would like to be involved in this process in Cardigan should contact PCSO 8142 Mason or PS472 Garnie at Cardigan Police Station, or email cronfallesaberteifi@gmail.com

A virtual event is then being held on Saturday. December 5, which will see people have their say on how the money is split between groups who have made bids for funding.

For information on taking part in the Cardigan vote, visit Cardigan Wellbeing Fund on Facebook or email cronfallesaberteifi@gmail.com