TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY SAFETY FUND – AWARD OF GRANTS
Purpose of the Report
To consider a recent application 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 Ministerial Decisions 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
Further applications have been received for grants from the Community Safety Fund, as outlined below.
Organisation | Amount Requested | Purpose |
Fire Service | £2,690 | Two Bluetooth Safety Messaging Units |
Mont a l’Abbe School | £100 | Booster seats for Foundation Stage children |
Bluetooth Messaging Units
Jersey Fire & Rescue has requested funding to purchase two bluetooth messaging units for transmitting community safety messages through a modern medium. The bluetooth units will enable the Fire Service to transmit safety messages to any mobile telephones with their bluetooth switched on, at any time. The recipient has the choice to accept or reject the message.
In today’s modern society, new ways to target some of the harder to reach groups are needed and this method will be a new tool to reach the younger generation. This will be particularly useful to assist in targeting the late teenage generation in the fight against an ever increasing arson problem.
Each unit will provide feedback on the number of messages sent, received and rejected to enable thorough reporting when evaluating the success of regular campaigns run from the stations in Rouge Bouillon and Les Quennevais. The units would also be utilised at public events such as the Battle of Flowers, Battle of Britain, West Show, etc. One unit will also be made available to other agencies to use for community safety related activities.
£2,690 has been requested to purchase 2 units.
Mont á l’Abbé School Booster Seats
The school has applied for a grant of £100 to purchase 10 booster seats to be used for Foundation Stage children who regularly travel on outings in one of the school’s minibuses. The booster seats used in conjunction with the minibus’s seat belts will allow the children to be carried more safely.
The applications meet the criteria and sufficient funds remain available in the Community Safety Fund.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to award a grant of £2690 to Jersey Fire and Rescue Service to purchase two Bluetooth Messaging Units for transmitting fire safety campaigns and £100 to Mont á l’Abbé School to purchase 10 child booster seats for Foundation Stage children to use when travelling in the school’s minibuses.
Reason(s) for Decision
To support important community safety initiatives.
Action Required
Subject to the Minister approving the grants, the sums to be disbursed to the relevant organisation.
Written by: | Head of Driver and Vehicle Standards |
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Approved by: | Director of Transport |
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