Leicestershire Communities Fund - Round 2 (Following the extended lockdown)

Additional funding has been agreed by Leicestershire County Council to support community organisations in the areas of the County affected by the extended lockdown.

A total of £100,000 is being made available for a limited period of time (until 24^th July 2020), for organisations operating in the affected electoral divisions only.

The maximum amount available to any one organisation will be £2,000 and the minimum amount is £500.

The following electoral divisions are included:

• Braunstone
• Blaby & Glen Parva (affected in part)
• Birstall (affected in part)
• Thurmaston Ridgemere (affected in part)
• East Wigston
• North Wigston
• South & West Wigston
• Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forests (affected in part)
• Oadby
• Groby & Ratby (affected in part)
• Enderby and Lubbesthorpe (affected in part)
• Syston Ridgeway (affected in part)

A map showing the lockdown area can be seen here

A total of £100,000 is being made available for a limited period of time (until 24^th July 2020), for organisations operating in the affected electoral divisions only.

The maximum amount available to any one organisation will be £2,000 and the minimum amount is £500.

Charities, constituted voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises in the affected areas can apply for a maximum of £2,000 for support with the following activities:

• Support for core running costs - for organisations who have experienced a loss of income due to services closing or operating at a reduced level and where this may lead to the permanent closure of the organisation
• Extra staffing - capacity required to meet existing/current or increased demand for services, to support vulnerable people during the crisis
• Adapting services - the need to rapidly adapt current service delivery models to maintain contact with service users
• Equipment - funding for essential ICT, safety (such as PPE) or other essential equipment
• Community Buildings – funding to help with the safe re-opening, usage and cleansing of community buildings, to enable services to be delivered
• Transport - funding for use of vehicles, transport, fuel etc. to enable visits to service users
• Expenses - funding for increased expenses costs such as reimbursing travel costs for staff/volunteers who need to visit service users, if it safe to do so, in their home or in other locations.
• Other - anything else deemed acceptable in relation to the criteria for the Fund

There is particular interest in supporting local community groups who are providing a vital service within local communities, including:

• support for vulnerable people, including those who are shielded
• support for those who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus
• support to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people living in areas of the County affected by the lockdown

You can apply for a grant online, on the Leicestershire Communities website.

Please complete the online application form and share how much funding you are requesting and what the funding will be used for.

Please note the funding can only be offered to voluntary and community sector organisations operating within the electoral divisions/areas mentioned.

Organisations can also approach their local County Councillor directly to discuss their proposal before applying.

Contact details for local County Councillors can be seen here

Any enquiries regarding applications can be sent to: leicestershirecommunities@leics.gov.uk