Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis has revisited a Stafford-based mental health charity who received funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Proceeds of Crime Fund in January.
Mid Staffordshire Mencap were given funding for a new project designed to teach people with learning disabilities about hate and mate crime. Hate and mate crime is where a person with learning disabilities is exploited by people posing as their friends, often they do not realise they are a victim of crime.
£5,417 was awarded to be used to run bespoke sessions for people with learning disabilities by specialist outreach staff.
The Proceeds of Crime Fund supports projects in conjunction with local policing teams and local authorities. It is made up of assets and money seized by police from criminals in Staffordshire under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mr Ellis said: “Mid Staffordshire Mencap has really impressed me with their work with vulnerable people.
“It was interesting to learn that since receiving the funding they are learning more and more about how much of a problem this really is. They are now working closer with families and carers to help raise awareness of hate and mate crime”
Mike Howell, Chief Officer at Mid Staffordshire Mencap, said: “The grant Mid Staffordshire Mencap has received from The Commissioner’s Proceeds of Crime Fund has made a big difference to the amount of support we can give to people with learning disabilities when they are affected by and become victims of hate and mate crime.
“The idea for the project began when a member of staff attended a training course concerning hate crime and we have found now that many of our clients experience hate crime incidents; we believe that we are playing an important part in helping people with learning disabilities deal with these issues.”
For more information, contact Mid Staffordshire Mencap on 01785 244 270.
