Criminals’ loot is given to good causes in Llanrwst

Oct 29 2009 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

Criminals’ loot is given to valley good causes

CONWY Valley Outdoor Activities group has received £1,500 in funding thanks to a Community Cashback scheme, where cash from criminals’ seized assets, is given to worthwhile community projects.

The rural outdoor activities group, a joint initiative involving members of the Llanrwst Neighbourhood Police Team, local community groups and the Nant Bwlch yr Haearn Outdoor Centre, Llanrwst, will spend the funding on a series of day challenges and stimulating activities for young people from a variety of backgrounds.

The outdoor initiative will also promote a healthy lifestyle message to those participating, which the organisers believe is particularly important with an increasingly obese population.

The activities will also work towards reinforcing environmental responsibility by improving knowledge of local wildlife, conservation and ecology issues.

The £4 million Community Cashback fund was announced back in May and the Local Criminal Justice Board in North Wales was able to submit project proposals for funding.

Six publicly nominated projects in North Wales were celebrating their success as one of 269 projects nationally which secured funding allocated from the ill gotten gains of criminals.

The funding was made available through the Government’s Community Cashback scheme, from criminals’ seized assets, such as confiscated cash or property.

In North Wales 53 projects were nominated and 737 responses were received from members of the public on the projects they would like to see funded.

North Wales Criminal Justice Board Chairman Ed Beltrami said: “It is fantastic that we have been able to respond to the communities’ needs and that the ill-gotten gains of criminals will now be channelled into projects that will make a real positive difference to the local community and the lives of individuals.”