£2 million fire service safety fund opens

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue wants registered charities, community organisations and partner agencies to come forward and apply for grants from the £2 million fund, which has been set aside from the authority's reserves.

Groups will be able to bid for £5,000 or as much as £250,000 to support projects which reduce injuries, save lives and make South Yorkshire safer.

Key objectives for the Safer and Stronger Communities Reserve fund include prioritising the most vulnerable, collaboration and data sharing.

Fire Authority Chair, councillor Jim Andrews, said: “South Yorkshire is a safer place to live today than it has been at any time in its history.

“As an authority, we know that we can only sustain these improvements by working together with partners to make community safety work joined-up and responding to local needs.

“That's why we've decided to set aside this money, because we know it is only by working alongside community groups, charities and other partner agencies that we can continue to make the lives of the most vulnerable people in society safer.”

There is a three-stage application process for funding:

Stage 1- submit an expression of interest form between January 6 to February 10 2014.

Stage 2- presentation to assessment board.

Stage 3- develop a service level agreement.

Recommendations will be made to the March authority meeting.

A second round will open in April 2014.

For more information and to apply visit www.syfire.gov.uk