Funding opportunity launched to reduce knife crime in Cleveland

Community organisations are being invited to apply for funding to deliver anti-knife crime projects to tackle serious youth violence in Cleveland.

Matt Storey, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cleveland, with support from the Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV), has made available £80,000 for local charitable or voluntary community sector organisations.

They can bid for up to £25,000 for community knife crime reduction activities for young people.

The Knife Crime Action Fund is designed to support local organisations working to reduce knife crime among young people through projects that contribute to at least one of the following aims:

• Raising awareness – of the consequences of carrying or using a knife;
• Empowering young people – to make safer, more informed choices;
• Equipping young people – with the knowledge and confidence to act if they know someone is carrying a knife;
• Support for parents and families – to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and increase awareness of the risks associated with knife crime.

CURV – Cleveland’s violence reduction partnership – was established in 2022 to develop an area-wide strategy to reduce levels of violent crime.

It focuses on developing interventions to prevent violent crime before it occurs, analysing data on the root causes of violence and bringing agencies together in multi-agency partnerships.

In the last 12 months, CURV-funded interventions have engaged with over 9,500 young people under the age of 24 and a further 800 people over the age of 24, supporting them in making positive choices to reduce the risk of being drawn into violent crime.

Between January and December 2024, there were 268 knife crime offences involving young people aged 24 and under recorded by Cleveland Police – a 12 per cent reduction from 305 offences on the previous year.

Matt has launched the new fund during Knife Crime Awareness Week and recognises that prevention work is key when it comes to tackling serious violence.

“No one should have to live with the awful consequences that knife crime brings not only to victims, but their families and the whole community.

“Significant progress has been made over the last year with reductions in serious violence and knife crime in Cleveland but there is still more to do.

“Through the work of CURV, Cleveland Police and partners, we will continue to invest in prevention, early intervention and education work to empower young people, support families and create opportunities that steer people away from crime.

“I’m delighted to launch this fund, which I hope will attract bids from a range of community organisations who want to build relationships with the next generation.”

Matt Storey, PCC for Cleveland.

In March 2025, CURV secured an additional £1.143m from the Home Office to continue its work for a further 12 months.

The figure is made up of CURV’s core funding and a Serious Violence Duty Grant, which together will be used to build on current achievements and continue delivering interventions that help prevent violence and improve safety in local communities.

Interested parties can apply for the Knife Crime Action Fund until midday on 13 June 2025. Projects are scheduled to begin in July 2025 and run to March 2026.

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