COMMUNITY groups and initiatives have joined the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour thanks to a £1m annual fund.

Thirty four grants have been awarded to Forest of Dean groups by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund in Gloucestershire since its launch in 2012.

And others are now being encouraged to consider taking advantage of the ‘secret weapon against crime’ by applying for cash help later this year.

One charity to benefit has been the Forest Upcycling Project, which was founded in 2014 by former deputy headteacher Matthew Jones, and has been “changing lives” for the better ever since from its Cinderford premises.

Matt’s wife Nadine, who has also left teaching to join the project as deputy manager, said: “Matthew had a reasonably well-paid job he loved, but had become quite senior and felt he was having less and less of an impact.

“And what he thought might work and help just a few people became a divining rod, which led him towards a need among many, many people – old and young – for the most basic of provisions like beds, fridges, cookers, tables and chairs.

“There was a similar charity set up near where we had lived near Newbury and he thought that might work here.”

And armed with a second-hand van and a hired warehouse, Forest Upcycling quickly took off, working with and training vulnerable people to get them back into employment, saving unwanted items from landfill and providing household goods at low prices and even free to people in need.

It has made a huge difference to people’s lives.

Nadine, aged 40, told how one member of staff who had previously been long-term unemployed inspired them through his own interests to set up a gardening service arm to the charity.

And later at a staff Christmas party, she said: “He came up to Matthew and said ‘I have wanted to say this to you for a long time. You have changed my life’.”

Forest Upcycling has grown so fast since being set up that bringing the funds in to keep up became a challenge.

Mum-of-four Nadine added: “We have had a few grants from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund and they have all made a massive difference.

“We put in a bid last time to help with safety equipment. Any of our funds we can we direct back into employment costs. The aim is to create proper opportunity for people who might otherwise be struggling.

“We now have 18 employees across two sites.

“The Commissioner’s Fund has recently given us £6,000 for uniforms – which frees- up the equivalent amount of money we can then use to provide employment opportunities,” said Mrs Jones.

“Our first employee was a 19-year-old who was supposed to have been home schooled, but he did not really have any literacy skills at all. We helped him develop those skills so he was able to apply for a job.”

But the charity, which in 2016 added a Monmouthshire arm based in Chepstow, will do its best to help anyone, whether they have training requirements, need to build their confidence to help them re-enter the jobs market, have special needs, or wants to volunteer.

“We go and look at some people’s homes and it really opens your eyes to the level of poverty out there and the number of people who really need help,” added Nadine.

“On Christmas Eve one year we had a call from social services asking if we had any-thing we could give a young couple with a baby they had just found a flat for.

“It meant we were going to have to give up our Christmas Eve with our families to deliver the items – but they really had nothing. So you help, don’t you.”

Gloucestershire PCC Martin Surl said of the OPCC fund: “Community safety is not just about policing. It’s about everyone taking responsibility and playing their part in making their neighbourhood as good as they can be.

“Solutions are always best when they come from the people involved. Some have helped make our roads safer, some will help young people make the difficult transaction to responsible adulthood and others will make older people feel more secure.

“I firmly believe the best way to reduce crime and bring about more peace and good order is to involve our police, criminal justice services, community and voluntary sector.”

The “friendly front line army” helped by the fund includes groups dedicated to tackling everything from social exclusion and supporting young people, families and the elderly to tackling drug and alcohol dependence and launching community projects

More than 470 projects have benefited county-wide, and those in the Forest include the Candi youth project in Cinderford, Cinderford Area Neighbourhood Development Initiative, Forest of Dean Sea Cadets Canoe Project, Forest of Dean road safety Project, Forest Voluntary Action Forum (Best Buddies), Huntley & Churcham Youth Project, Newent Initiative Youth Service, Newent CCTV, Ruardean Youth Club, Sedbury Space, and Viney Hill Christian Adventure Centre.

More details about the fund are available at www.glouce stershire-pcc.gov.uk/the-commissioners- fund/ with an update on how to apply due this Spring.