A LOCAL forum will be providing communities in West Yorkshire with funds to better prepare them for emergencies and major incidents.

West Yorkshire Prepared’s Community Grant Initiative, which was launched last year, aims to help communities across West Yorkshire increase their resilience and preparedness, ensuring they are ready should a major incident occur.

In the first year of the initiative over 20 organisations received funding ranging from £130 to £5000.

Successful projects included bids for search and rescue equipment for Mountain Rescue teams, first aid training for community groups, and funding to develop natural flood defences as well as defibrillators.

The Theatre Royal in Wakefield was one of the recipients of a defibrillator unit, along with funding for first aid training for staff and volunteers.

Catherine Hankinson, co-Chair of West Yorkshire Prepared and Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Our aim, through this initiative, is to deliver funds to grass-roots projects and organisations that can make a real difference on the ground.

"Whether for flood prevention and protection, essential communication devices or emergency response equipment, we want to enable more to be done at a local level by providing small, one-off grants.”

Any community or voluntary group can apply, with applications particularly welcomed from groups working in more deprived communities or areas where there are clear and present risks. For full details on the entry criteria, or to download an application form, visit www.westyorkshireprepared.org.uk/community-grant. The closing date for applications is December 31, 2022.

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