The Assets Recovery Community Scheme allows monies received from the payment of confiscation orders following a criminal confiscation to be diverted into community projects across Northern Ireland to support communities and individuals and address some of the harmful impacts from a wide range of crimes.

In previous years, the scheme has supported the Children’s Law Centre (CLC) to provide training, information and advice to support young people in Woodland Juvenile Justice Centre, and helped Community Restorative Justice Ireland (CRJ) to develop a full-time presence in south and east Belfast.

Applications for the 2021/2022 scheme are now open and the Department of Justice is encouraging eligible groups to consider how to make best use of this year’s interim funding and ensure that communities affected by crime can benefit.

Organisations seeking to bid to this year’s £400,000 scheme must clearly demonstrate how they will prevent crime or reduce the fear of crime and directly benefit victims, communities or the environment. The application form and guidance notes can be found on the Department’s website.