Ellesmere Port community projects awarded share of Police and Crime Commissioner’s £150k fund

Several organisations in Ellesmere Port will benefit from a share of Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner's £150,000 community fund.

Projects to receive support include initiatives using sport and creative activities to inspire young people, as well as programmes helping them make healthier choices and engage more positively with their communities.

More than 40 community projects across Cheshire will benefit through the Commissioner’s SWAP Fund – Safety, Working Together, Action and Prevention

The fund was originally set at £100,000, but after receiving almost three times as many applications as the previous round, Dan Price decided to increase the fund to £150,000. The initiative supports grassroots projects tackling the issues residents care about most – from reducing anti-social behaviour to improving wellbeing and creating safe spaces for young people.

Among the Ellesmere Port groups to benefit from up to £5k each include:

• Cheshire Phoenix Basketball Club – delivering the Positive Role Models and Healthy Living programme to over 1,200 children, with workshops on healthy lifestyles and opportunities to attend basketball events.
• Ellesmere Port Darts Academy – improving facilities to create a safe, welcoming environment where young people can develop skills and confidence.
• Neston Community Youth Centre – recruiting a part-time facilitator to support young people to carry out community engagement to find out what other youngsters in the area want.
• Theatre Porto – delivering a Youth Arts Café for young people aged 11-18, combining creative workshops with youth and pastoral support.
• Blades Down CIC – providing youth workshops on knife crime prevention and personal safety.
• The Whitby High School – running Voices Unlocked, a student-led joint project with Bishop’s Blue Coat School, tackling youth violence, drug misuse and anti-social behaviour.

Dan Price, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said:

“Projects like Cheshire Phoenix Basketball and Ellesmere Port Darts Academy show how sport and teamwork can change lives. They give young people purpose, structure and positive role models, helping to build safer, stronger communities.

“The quality and number of applications this year has been mind blowing. That’s why I increased the SWAP Fund by £50,000, so we can support even more initiatives making a real difference across Cheshire.”

The fund is financed through the Proceeds of Crime Act, using money seized directly from criminals operating in Cheshire. In total, Dan has now provided £350,000 to support community projects since his SWAP Fund started in September 2024. Further funding will be released in 2026, offering new opportunities for community projects to apply for support.

A full list of all the awarded projects is available here.

Pictured - Cheshire Phoenix Basketball players at a recent primary school drop-in session.