A dozen community projects and charities are to share £200,000 in money seized from criminals in Manchester.

The good causes are the latest to benefit from Greater Manchester Police’s asset recovery incentivisation scheme.

Among those benefitting is First Kick Foundation, which runs youth club activities in Bury.

The funding “will enable First Kick Foundation youth workers to deliver six, free-to-access youth club sessions which will provide young people with a safe space to develop new skills, meet new friends and improve community connectivity”, said Tom Hutton, from the charity.

Other charities to benefit from the funding include: Third Space Bolton, Rochdale Council of Mosques, Ince Rose Bridge Sports & Community Club in Wigan, Bolton’s Elite Community Hub CIC and Base X, Abraham Moss Warriors in Manchester and Stockport’s Pure Insight.

Also sharing the windfall are Manchester Airport Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham, Salford Youth Service and Manchester and Stockport based Highway Hope.

“It’s only right that the money recovered from criminals is reinvested into the communities we serve, supporting those who need it most,” said Greater Manchester Police economic crime unit lead Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe.

“A key principle of justice is ensuring that individuals who profit from crime are stripped of those gains and prevented from enjoying them at the expense of others. That is an ongoing process as well look to strip even more money from criminals and redistribute within our communities.

“It’s even more rewarding to know that these funds are now being used for positive, meaningful purposes within our communities. It’s particularly pleasing that the successful groups are based right across the GMP force area and their projects supported by our district policing teams."

He added: “The projects have been chosen as they align with our goals of reducing and preventing crime, especially among young people.”

Earlier this year in Manchester convicted drug dealer Lee Whiteley was ordered to pay back more than £200,000 and Umair Zaheer, the ringleader of a nationwide drugs and firearms conspiracy, ordered to pay £350,000.

Charities can receive up to £20,000 in funding through the asset recovery incentivisation scheme for 12 months’ activities. Applications for the next tranche of funding will be announced by Greater Manchester Police in early 2026.

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