A project that improves the self-esteem of women and an anti-hate crime drive are two of the schemes that received police funding last year.

In 2017 Essex Police's Community Safety Development Fund dolled out £300,000 to 30 organisations which help prevent crime and tackle anti-social behaviour in the county.

Amongst their number was The Gifted, a Harlow based charity which provided a six-session programmes of one-to-one coaching and mentoring for girls demonstrating risky behaviour, dubbed the Butterfly project.

The group was awarded £11,700 from the fund and ran sessions covering body image, strengths, contraception, relationships, decision-making and the challenges the girls face.

Tori Pearson, development and partnerships lead at The Gifted, said: “The funding enables our work to reach those who really need it and who, without us, would fall through the gaps.

“The Butterfly offers both a preventative and intervention service to build girls’ confidence and to help those most vulnerable or suffering from very complex issues to focus on ways to make positive changes, feel heard and be accepted.

“The nature of the work we do is bespoke and we are seeing growing numbers of referrals, indicating that there is a strong need for what we do.

“Long-term, our butterflies can become butterflyettes who are peer mentors, trained to deliver or volunteer with us and pioneer the work further. This enable us to skill-up our beneficiaries, while helping others to access what we do and see there is a positive outcome, even when you think you have no one.”

Other organisations which received funding include Tendring District Council and its scheme to lessen the chances of hate crime by teaching Chinese calligraphy, Bollywood dancing and African drumming to Year 6 pupils, and Shirley Hume.

The Chelmsford mum-of-five set up the Springfield Youth Group this summer as concerns about anti-social behaviour in her area began to mount.

After turning to social media to suggest her idea, Ms Hume was inundated with volunteers keen to help.

The group, which meets every Friday at Springfield Parish Centre, was launched within a few months and now sees up to 87 children aged 11 to 16 attending.

It received £5,691.30 from the Community Safety Development Fund.

Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex said: “Across Essex we have a huge number of voluntary and community groups working within their communities, solving local problems and make a vital contribution in helping to build safe and secure communities.

“Empowering local communities, supporting innovation and rewarding those groups that achieve practical results at a grass roots level is an important way to keep our county safe and our communities strong and resilient.”

If you are interested in applying for a grant go to www.essex.pfcc.police.uk/what-we-are-doing/police-and-crime-plan/community-safety-development-fund/ to find out more.

Applications close on Sunday, September 30, 2018.