THE NORTH Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) is on the hunt for a trio of volunteer crime busters.

It comes as PACT prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

The charity is looking to recruit volunteers, one to work in each of the three policing divisions, Flintshire and Wrexham, Conwy and Denbighshire and Gwynedd and Anglesey.

PACT recently revealed that it has handed out more than £2 million in grants and funded over 2,500 community projects since it was founded in 1998.

To celebrate reaching the milestone it set up a £25,000 anniversary fund and is inviting bids for grants of up to £2,500 for local initiatives across the region – the deadline for submissions is June 30.

Fittingly, much of PACT’s funding comes from cash seized from criminals and recycled for the public good.

The organisation works closely with North Wales Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams, particularly the network of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

PACT's main purpose is to provide funding to community and voluntary groups for schemes that improve people’s quality of life by reducing crime and the fear of crime.

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Dave Evans, PACT project manager said: “We’re looking for a small cohort of volunteers who are committed to helping us engage with community groups across the six counties and almost act an advocate for PACT, encouraging groups to apply for funding and also importantly carrying out some project feedback and find out how effective, or otherwise it’s been.

“We work closely with the network of PCSOs and are excited to be developing this work with the army of Special Constables, volunteer police officers, who work across North Wales.

“We are looking for people who are interested in community affairs and want to make a real difference and make North Wales a safer place to live, work and visit.”

Mark Owen, Head of Citizens in Policing and the Special Constabulary Chief Officer at North Wales Police, was involved in the setting up of PACT when he was an Inspector looking after community safety for the force.

He said: “What PACT has achieved is absolutely superb, all the grants that have been awarded and the good work that has taken place since it was founded. It’s just fabulous.

“The direct link into my current role as the person in charge of police volunteering for North Wales, with Special Constables, Police Support Volunteers and Cadets, is that they benefit directly from PACT.

“We’re now working on a programme for our Special Constables to become ambassadors for PACT at the local level, creating a beautiful loop from police volunteering and back again.

“If anything, PACT is more relevant now that it ever was and it helps make communities safer.

“There’s a lot of academic research that shows that volunteers get a feel-good factor and a sense of value. It’s good for you.

“For people who are on the verge of retiring or have recently retired, they have invaluable skills and knowledge that might otherwise go to waste.

“By volunteering, you’re not only giving something back you’re getting that positivity and a buzz from helping others.”

Anybody interested in becoming a volunteer or making a bid for a grant should go to the PACT website  www.pactnorthwales.co.uk or email enquiries@pactnorthwales.co.uk .