MORE Government cash is to be spent in south Bucks on work to prevent extremism in the Muslim community.

Chiltern District Council will get £3,000 to for projects involving young people in Chesham.

About £300,000 is being spent on anti-extremism projects in Wycombe which hit headlines last week when a report claimed these can do more harm than good.

Some Muslims fear the cash sheds an unfair light on the Muslim community by targeting a minority of extremists (see link, right).

The Chiltern’s Community Cohesion and Prevent Forum will “work with local Muslim groups to stimulate integration and improve understanding of the local Muslim community as well as celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the area” the Government said.

The Communities and Local Government department added: “The group will also seek to involve the wider community by organising a major event in the community with high level speakers promoting peace and harmony and positive discussion around violent extremism.”

A council spokesman said: “We will be using this money to work with young people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in Chesham.

“Our aim is to create a better understanding of the different communities that are based in the town and improve the openness between them.

“The funding will be spent between now and June on a number of projects.”

A total of £5.1m is being provided nationwide from the Preventing Violent Extremism Community Leadership Fund.

Praising £650,000 worth of projects already completed Cohesion minister Sadiq Khan today said: “Muslim communities are fully committed to doing all they can to tackle violent extremism and promote shared values to all who may be at risk of radicalisation.”

The Bucks Free Press last week reported the concerns of Wycombe MP Paul Goodman over £284,000 of preventing violent extremism cash for the district.

Mr Goodman said there was “no proof” the £70m national scheme was having an affect.

He spoke after a report on the funding by think tank the Policy Exchange which said: “Not only is it failing to achieve its stated objectives, in many places it is actually making the situation worse.

“A new generation is being radicalised, sometimes with the very funds that are supposed to be countering radicalisation.