Community Safety Development Fund

Page updated 2/7/2025

Applying for the CSDF

We are committed to working with our local voluntary and community safety sector to deliver effective approaches to preventing and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in support of the Police and Crime Plan 2024/28.

To help support the vital work they do for local communities, we are pleased to announce the 2025/26 Community Safety Development Fund (CSDF) is open for applications from Thursday 3^rd July 2025. Groups that meet the criteria can apply for up to £20,000 in funding, for projects taking place in Southend, Essex or Thurrock.

Applications

Applications for this funding round must be submitted via Microsoft Forms, accessible through the link provided below.

Funding will be awarded through a single application round, with the following key dates:

• Opening date: 3 July 2025
• Closing date: 10 September 2025

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Microsoft Forms! Please ensure you allow enough time to complete your application in one sitting, as the form cannot be saved and returned to later. We strongly recommend reviewing the Key Question Summary document and Criteria beforehand. You may find it helpful to draft your responses separately and then copy and paste them into the MS form.

After submitting your application, please email your GDPR, Safeguarding Policy, and CSP endorsement to pfcc.funding@essex.police.uk with 'CSDF - (Your Company Name)' as the subject.

We aim to notify all applicants of the outcome, successful or otherwise, within two months of the closing date.

Questions about the fund should be e-mailed to Claire.hanrahan2@essex.police.uk

Application Form Link

Criteria link

Key Questions Link 

Decision-making

Decisions will be made using available evidence that demonstrates the initiative’s likely impact on the PFCC’s priorities. The PFCC uses a panel of independent, local representatives to ensure proposed activity reflects local priorities, links-in with existing commissioned or grant-funded activity, and provides the PFCC with value for money.

The PFCC aims to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of funding across Essex including the unitary authorities of Southend and Thurrock, and between the priorities within the Police and Crime Plan.

Funding

The allocation for the 2025/26 Community Safety Development Fund is around £300,000.

Funding will be released upon receipt of a signed Grant Agreement and a corresponding invoice, in accordance with the payment schedule outlined in the Agreement.

Monitoring and evaluation

Those who are awarded grants are asked to provide formal reports at the conclusion of the project, using the standard report template. Performance information will need to assess and demonstrate impact articulated in the application. Financial information presented will need to demonstrate the funding has been spent on the agreed initiatives within the Funding Application.