May the 4th be with you – and the force certainly was with Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn and the TourdeForce team as they successfully completed 500 miles in five days on their bikes on Friday May 4.

Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel can announce that it is now in a position to make a difference in local communities, with grants of up to £1000 made available for community groups and charities within the Dyfed-Powys area.

Friday was the culmination of five long days spent in the saddle for the challenge dubbed #TourdeForce, with the team visiting every police station in the force area during the week.

Cycling an average of 100 miles with climbs of over 7000ft per day and covering almost two thirds of Wales’ landmass - this was no easy challenge.

Reflecting on the experience, Mr Llywelyn said: ”I’d like to thank everyone who supported this event in any way – there are too many to list.

"But I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the officers who cycled with me pushing me on, and the invaluable medical support from the charity Cariad.

"When I look back it was such a fantastic experience – and well worth giving up my own time to do this.

“Not only was it great to launch and raise money for Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel, but it was also an excellent opportunity to meet and chat with local residents during the engagement events in the evenings.

"It really brought home to me how diverse our communities are, be that in rural or more urban areas, and that is something to celebrate.

“I am very grateful to the following generous sponsors who kindly supported the tour - Brecon Carreg donated bottles of water to keep us hydrated throughout; and Enterprise Cycles in Neyland, Pembrokeshire donated energy gels and bars and spare inner tubes in case of punctures.”

The Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel charity is now in a position to start making a difference

The charity is pleased to announce that the process for applications for funding from Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel is now open.

It will run for six weeks, closing on June 29 2018.

Applications must align with Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel’s objectives, namely promoting crime prevention and community safety advice, while reducing the fear of crime through provision of education and information on community safety.

Each community group and/or charity within the Dyfed-Powys area can apply for a maximum of £1,000, and projects must be linked to young people aged 25 years and under and must support one or more of the principles in the Police and Crime Plan.

Full guidance and instructions on how to apply can be found on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s website

We encourage local community groups and charities to read the guidance form before applying; applications that do not support the charity’s objectives and do not align with the Police and Crime Plan will not be considered.

To view the highlights of the #TourdeForce head to Twitter @DPOPCC