Decision details

The reasons for the decision are:

The Greater Manchester Capacity and Capability Fund has two themes of the volunteering element. The first theme is centred around empowering victims to obtain volunteering opportunities within or outside of the sector to support their recovery and the second is increase volunteering capacity within the VCSE organisation. This will not only create a valuable learning platform for volunteers but also allow them to contribute to organisation’s mission and aims. By working in such a critical and sensitive area, volunteers can gain significant experience and develop a unique set of skills which can assist in improving the calibre, experience and expertise of individuals working within the victims' support sector.

It is acknowledged that there is a significant strain that victims' service organisations are currently experiencing. This strain is largely due to the escalating cost of living expenses, which has been driven and exacerbated by inflation which has consistently remained above average over the past two years. Due to the escalating cost of living expenses, victims' face financial pressure that has put a burden on their resources which could potentially impact the quality and extent of the support and opportunities they can receive. In response to this strain, this priority funding theme has been designed to provide financial relief to victims. Funding can be utilised to help victims manage their expenses, thereby allaying some of the financial pressure they are under and alleviating the fear of an impact on the quality of the support and opportunities they can receive.
The grant funding is designed to bolster and enhance the existing services accessed by victims', especially to victims from minority groups or backgrounds. This grant funding serves as a resource for victim services organisations to improve their services and make them more inclusive. By doing so, they can ensure that their services are accessible but also responsive to the needs of the diverse population they serve. This ultimately contributes to a more effective and supportive environment for all victims of crime.
The grant funding provides financial resources that can be utilised for a wide array of both existing and proposed initiatives and programmes. These are specifically designed to incorporate the valuable insights of individuals with lived experience in the process of shaping the services and ensuring support meets the needs of victims. This approach recognises the unique perspective and understanding that these individuals bring to the table.


Their first hand experience with the challenges faced by victims of crime makes them uniquely positioned to contribute to the design and delivery of services. By involving them in the process, services can be tailored more effectively to meet the specific needs of victims.

A fundamental aspect of enhancing services and support available to victims in Greater Manchester lies in fostering increased collaboration and cross-functional practices among the various victim services organisations in the city region. By working together, organisations can share knowledge, resources and best practices, leading to a more comprehensive and effective support system for victims. This collaborative approach creates a comprehensive approach to victim support, where organisations can complement each other’s services to address the diverse needs of victims. Recognising the potential of such collaborative efforts, the Victims Capacity and Capability Fund has identified enhancing collaboration as a priority funding theme. By prioritising collaboration, the fund aims to create a more integrated and efficient victim support network in Greater Manchester which not only improves the quality of services on offer but ensures victims have access to the correct support they need.

To use the funding available from the Police Property Act under the permitted use of the fund:

to make payments of such amounts as the relevant authority may determine for such charitable purposes as they may select.

A total of £900,000 to be allocated for 3-years to the Greater Manchester Victims’ Capability and Capacity Fund. 300k per year for 3 Elements:
1. Small Grants
2. Enhanced scheme to support GM strategy development.
3. VCSE Leadership development.

This Decision Notice deals with Element 1 Small Grants.

Background
The Police (Property) Act 1897 contains two principal provisions:
• Provides for a magistrates’ court to make an order in respect of property that has come into the possession of the police in connection with the investigation of an offence. (Proceedings to recover the property may be brought by a person claiming to be entitled to possession within six months of the date of the court order).
• The secretary of state is given power under section 2 to make regulations for the disposal of property that has come into the possession of the police in connection with the investigation of an offence, where the owner has not been ascertained and no court order has been made.

The proceeds of all sales under the regulations and any money to which the regulations apply are to be paid to the relevant authority (the local policing

body) and kept in a separate account (the Police Property Act Fund (the Fund)).

The Fund may be invested as the relevant authority thinks fit and the income derived from the investments added to the Fund. The moneys, including income shall be used —
(a) to defray expenses incurred in the conveyance, storage, and safe custody of the property and in connection with its sale and otherwise in executing the regulations.
(b) to pay reasonable compensation, the amount of which shall be fixed by the relevant authority, to persons by whom property has been delivered to the police.
(c) to make payments of such amounts as the relevant authority may determine for such charitable purposes as they may select.

Part 9 of the GMCA Constitution - The Mayor’s PCC Scheme of Delegation – Section 8 says ‘the exercise the powers and duties of the Police (Property) Regulations 1997’ to the Treasurer, as below.


Management of Assets and Risks

Activity Authorising Limit Principal Authoriser Deputy Authoriser
Exercise the Powers and Duties of the Police (Property)
Regulations 1997 All Treasurer to the GMCA Director of Finance (Police and Crime)

The Mayor’s PCC Financial Regulations – contain the following:

The Police (Property) Act 1997 is a fund whereby allocations are received from the sale of recovered stolen goods or property that has been found. If the owners of the recovered items are not traceable then they are sold at auction. The monies from the sale of goods are then redistributed by way of grants or donations to local charitable bodies that support and complement local policing and crime reduction priorities.

The Chief Finance Officer to the Chief Constable is responsible for:
• Approving the sale of recovered stolen goods or property that has been found, in accordance with the authorisation levels and
• Determining those items of crime property which may be retained for police purposes.

The Mayor (insofar as it relates to his PCC functions) is responsible for:

• Approving donations to charitable bodies within the Greater Manchester area in accordance with the requirements of the Police (Property) Act 1997.

The Small Grants will be capped at £124,898.18 this financial year as additional schemes of element 2) enhanced grant for victim’s services to support GM strategy delivery and element 3) victim services leadership development scheme is also in development. The scheme will be opened once each year for the next 3 financial years (including 2024/25). The Small Grants funding is a one-off payment to be spent within 6-12 months.

There will be three discrete elements to the overall fund:
1. Small grants to be awarded to community organisation who support victims (Max £5,000)
Such as - Cost of living grant for victims – to provide personal budgets and personal funding for victims with cost-of-living pressures.
2. Cost of living grant for organisations working with victims (Max
£2,000)
3. Grant to organisations working with victims (Max £10,000) Supporting Community development and collaboration.
With cross cutting themes of:
• Victim access to volunteering to support cope and recovery.
• Increase volunteering capacity within the organisation.
• Impact on the cost of living
• Supporting communities of identity - supporting access to services, improving the understanding of cultural and community needs and tackling racial disparity.
• Supporting lived experience development
• Enabling sector collaboration
• Tackling inequality – improving access and awareness

With a focus on: Increasing the capability and capacity of VCSE victim and survivor services to:
• To fill gaps where there is unmet need and enhance access to existing services.
• Support sustainability of services
• Reduce impact of cost-of-living crisis
• Focusing on supporting victims to cope and recover.
• Protecting and safeguarding vulnerable people
• Involve victims in service delivery and participation opportunities.
• Improvement in Social Capital including volunteering.
• Reduction of vulnerability /people at risk of exploitation


• Increased victim satisfaction and confidence
• Improvement communications and engagement including connectivity across services.
The proposal was agreed at the Victims Strategy Board on 6th August 2024.

The attached decision also provides information on the allocation and organisations for successful applicants:

A total of £124,898.18 to be allocated to the Greater Manchester Victims’ Capability and Capacity Fund element 1 – Small Grants for 2024/25. The Small Grants funding is a one-off payment to be spent within 6-12 months.