FOURTEEN projects have been given a share of more than £68,000.

The money has come from the Community Safety Fund set up by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne.

The scheme gives grants of up to £5,000 for groups which provide a positive and lasting impact on the local community.

To qualify, the organisations have to show how they will increase or promote safety in their area.

They also need to prove the positive long-term impact of their work.

They should also be able to offer evidence to show how it helps to prevent offending and reduce re-offending.

In the latest round of funding, which has just been announced, a number of schemes which focused on young people as well as ex-offenders received support.

They include Re-link, a one-to-one mentored literacy programme to support the rehabilitation of ex-offenders.

This is run by The Bridge community education centre in Moulsecoomb, Brighton.

Julia Blagbrough from The Bridge said: “Embedding programmes for ex-offenders into a diverse and inclusive community setting offers a natural opportunity to encourage social cohesion.”

Another is Platform-9, a scheme run by the Newhaven young people’s forum.

It works with people carrying out antisocial behaviour in the town, Peacehaven and Seaford.

The Crawley Brunch Club, a new initiative aimed at resettling ex-offenders into the community, has also benefited.

Funding was also given to the Hangleton and Knoll Project’s aiming high programme in Mile Oak, Portslade.

This plans to work with 40 young people a week addressing issues of anti-social behaviour and substance and alcohol misuse.

Other organisations which have received grants include Yada, a Worthing-based outreach service for women in the sex industry and the Sussex branch of the National Autistic Society for its Ditch the Bully campaign.

The group 4x4 Assist which helps the emergency services and communities across the county, was also given a grant.