Charities and community groups can now apply for grants to support projects aimed at improving public safety and supporting the private security.
The money has been confiscated by the SIA from criminals through proceeds of crime confiscation orders and is now available to charities to bid for.
The 'grants for good causes' could help fund a range of projects run by charities. Last year, the SIA gave over £72,000 to support 7 initiatives across several charities and community groups including Employment 4 All, Diverse FM, and Glasgow Street Aid among others.
The SIA helped fund projects including human trafficking awareness workshops, employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged groups and training for volunteers in emergency first response care.
Paul Cartlidge, Chair of the grants for good causes panel, said:
I'm delighted to be opening this year's grants for applications. Public safety is a team effort, and our commitment to protecting people goes beyond our day-to-day duties. Grassroots projects run by charities and community groups can have a profound impact on public safety, the private security industry and the people using their services.
As the regulator of the private security industry, we take robust enforcement action to prosecute those who put the public at risk through their offending. Through the grants for good causes, we are putting the ill-gotten gains of criminals to good use in a way that will benefit society and make the world a little bit safer.
Applications are open now, and more information about how to apply is on the SIA grant for good causes page on GOV.UK . Registered charities and community interest companies in the UK have until Friday 21 February at 11:59 pm to apply for funding. Eligible organisations must show how a grant will benefit the UK private security industry and/or support public safety.
Notes
The full amount of funding available will be confirmed in due course.
About the Proceeds of Crime Act
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) enables the SIA to investigate the financial activity of people who have committed a criminal offence and confiscate the proceeds of crime through a court-issued confiscation order. The SIA has been a designated body under POCA since 2015.
The SIA receives a portion of the money it recovers through confiscation orders under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS). This money can only be used to fund its financial investigation capability or distributed to good causes.
About the SIA grant for good causes fund
Organisations can apply for a grant if they are a registered charity or community interest company (CIC) and can clearly show how they will benefit the UK private security industry and/or support public safety.
All the information needed to make an application is available on the SIA grants for good causes page on GOV.UK . Applications close at 11:59 pm on Friday 21 February.
There is no guarantee that the organisations which apply will get funding. The SIA will inform successful applicants about its decision by Friday 7 March.
