TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND – AWARD OF GRANTS
Purpose of the Report
To consider recent applications for grants from the Community Safety Fund.
Background
Arrangements for considering applications for and awarding grants from the Community Safety Fund, for small but important initiatives, have previously been approved under MD-T-2007-0058, MD-T-2007-0112 and MD-T-2009-0069.
The criteria approved for considering applications and awarding grants are:-
- The proposal should be beneficial to the community at large;
- For one off items of expenditure directly related to community safety;
- Island based;
- For proposals that would significantly enhance or raise awareness on community safety and for which there is no or insufficient public funding;
- A maximum interim award of £20,000 per project.
Discussion
Applications have been received for grants from the Community Safety Fund, as outlined below.
Organisation | Amount Requested | Purpose |
Les Vaux Housing Trust | £5,570 | Fencing at children’s play area in Clos Lempriere |
Child Accident Prevention Jersey | £745 and £17,436 | Fire safety booklets and purchase of safety equipment |
Les Vaux Housing Trust owns ten houses at Clos Lempriere and there are fifteen houses that are privately owned by first time home buyers.
The play area at Clos Lempriere serves the whole estate and all the young children living on the estate gather and play there on a regular basis. Whilst the play area provides a great facility for the children, there is concern as it is adjacent to a road and there is a risk that children could run directly into the road and be knocked over.
The agent representing Les Vaux Housing Trust has obtained quotes to fence in the play area with the cheapest quote being £5,570.01. People on the estate, including the Trust, are prepared to contribute towards the costs but many are struggling with a new mortgage and cannot stretch their resources any further. Planning approval will be sought.
The application meets the criteria and sufficient funds remain available in the Community Safety Fund.
Child Accident Prevention Jersey
1. Fire safety booklets - Safety in Action is a series of workshops attended by over 1,000 Year Five primary school children every year. The children learn about the risks associated with fire, water, building sites, roads and kitchens and do some first aid. Each child is presented with a “goody bag” at the end of the workshops. The bag contains extended information about the safety workshops that the children can share at home and at school. CAPJ is seeking a grant of £745 to buy 3,300 fire safety booklets to put in the children’s bags. The booklets would provide a stock for the next three years of workshops.
The application meets the criteria and sufficient funds remain available in the Community Safety Fund.
- Safety equipment scheme – CAPJ provides safety equipment to families on low income. Over 600 children under five years old attend the Accident and Emergency Department at the hospital each year as a result of an accident at home. Many of these accidents would have been prevented if the family had the appropriate safety equipment in place. Families in financial hardship cannot afford the necessary safety equipment, so CAPJ provides a service whereby, following an assessment and recommendation from a health visitor, families can be provided with stairgates, fireguards and other safety equipment at a subsidised rate, and useful home safety packs free. Subsidised car booster seats are also provided. CAPJ is seeking a grant of £17,436 which would provide sufficient funding for this safety equipment to meet demand for the next three years.
The application meets the criteria and sufficient funds remain available in the Community Safety Fund.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to award a grant of:-
£5,570 to Les Vaux Housing Trust for fencing a children’s play area at Clos Lempriere;
£745 to Child Accident Prevention Jersey to buy 3,300 fire safety booklets for its Safety in Action children’s workshops;
£17,436 to Child Accident Prevention Jersey to buy safety equipment for the Home Safety Equipment Scheme it provides for families on low income.
Reason(s) for Decision
To support important community initiatives.
Action Required
Subject to the Minister approving the grants, the sums to be disbursed to the relevant organisations.
Written by: | Head of Driver and Vehicle Standards |
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Approved by: | Director of Transport |