The Stronger Safer Communities Reserve fund is a Fire Authority scheme which reinvests money into local communities to support our work to prevent emergencies. The money has been set aside from the Authority’s reserves.

The scheme allows charities and community groups across South Yorkshire to deliver work to reduce fires, traffic collisions and water deaths.

In 2017 local partners, charities and community organisations were able to bid for funding ranging from £5,000 to £100,000. There were 48 applications for funding, with the final list of 16 successful projects being decided by an assessment board. The funding allocated totals £639,000.

The schemes being supported range from an older persons befriending initiative and a falls prevention slipper swap project, to help for people with learning disabilities and the production of a virtual reality motorbike safety film.

This is the third time that local organisations have benefitted from the funding. The Fire Authority has also provided money to support the installation of sprinklers in higher-risk residential accommodation.

Research carried out by social return on investment specialists found that projects delivered through one of the fund’s previous bidding rounds produced nearly £5 million worth of benefits to local people.