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Community Grants
The Blaby District Council Community Grants scheme is currently closed for applications. Further details about the 2025-26 scheme will appear here soon.
Case studies
Read about how the scheme has helped other organisations in the past couple of years.
Enderby Life Church's Mission:Foodbank provides emergency support to those in need, irrespective of faith, with the aim of helping residents to get back on their feet in the longer-term and to eradicate food poverty. They have seven collection points for public donations and work with local businesses to redistribute surplus food. They also visit local schools and groups to champion recycling and waste reduction. The foodbank was awarded a £500 Revenue Grant in June 2024.
Julianna Holt, Foodbank Coordinator, says: “We are extremely grateful to have been awarded £500 from Blaby District Council's Community Grants Scheme. This money is to help fund the fuel costs of our foodbank van, which is an essential part of the services we provide; it not only enables us to reach those in isolated communities or those who don't have any transport options to visit the foodbank in person, it also gives us the means to collect donations from our many collection points across the district."
Old Newtonians' Rugby FC was awarded a £3984 Green Capital Grant in December 2022 to replace its ageing and inefficient air ducted ceiling heaters with modern air conditioning units that act as heat pumps during the Winter. This was coupled with installing new loft insulation. The new heating/cooling system uses 80% less electricity to power thereby reducing the Club’s carbon footprint and energy costs. Adrienne Catcheside, Club Development Manager says:
“In these difficult times of rising fuel costs the Council’s Green Grant initiative has provided a lifeline to our club by enabling us to purchase a replacement for our ageing and expensive heating system with a modern cost-effective alternative simultaneously reducing bills and our carbon footprint”.
Enderby United Reformed Church was awarded a £4000 Large Capital Grant in December 2022. The church hall is a key community asset, hosting different community groups, social events and private functions, including birthday parties and wakes. At the time the church applied for a grant, the toilets had been installed 50 years prior and were in desperate need of refurbishment. The grant has enabled the church to install modern and fresh facilities for everyone to use, including a baby changing station.
Judith North, Church Secretary, says: “This is an excellent way for people within the community to access funding for projects that are needed”.
Gather Create Grow was awarded a £500 Small Capital Grant in September 2023 to purchase shelving and storage boxes for the materials and items used for their community arts projects (such as Cosby Yarn Bomb), and groups. Natalie Smith, Director of the Community Interest Company, says:
“The additional shelving and storage boxes enable us to store and locate materials and equipment efficiently. It frees up time for us to be more proactive in planning and delivering our community projects, therefore increasing our impact which is to improve individuals' wellbeing, help them to feel less isolated and bring communities together. The shelving was put together by two of our male volunteers, both from Cosby, who felt extremely proud to have been able to help with the project. An added bonus is that now we have more storage space, we are able to continue to accept donations of yarn from members of the public which helps environmentally, it’s not going into landfill and supports us financially.
It means a lot to us to have your support and that you see value in the community work we do. Evidence shows us that residents of Blaby District who participate in our creative projects have an increased sense of pride about where they live. Those that visit from outside the district say what a great sense of community spirit there is here!”
Children’s Hospital Pyjamas is a national charity that provides new pyjamas for children of all ages who arrive in hospital without them. We awarded the charity £500 towards the cost of purchasing pyjamas for children in Leicester Royal Infirmary’s Children's Ward, Cardiac Unit and Mortuary, as well as Leicester General Hospital’s Neonatal Unit and the Rainbows Hospice.
Ann Dunkley, Operations Manager, says: “We donate pyjamas to poorly and disadvantaged children in hospitals, hospices and refuges. Children may arrive in A&E having had their clothing damaged, or in situations when there hasn’t been time to pack essentials, or they simply don’t have any. They may have their own pyjamas but need a fresh pair due to illness or accident. Our donated pyjamas have also been used to dress children who have passed away, so their families see them looking comfortable and at peace. Thank you so much for the grant – it allows us to continue our work within Leicestershire.”
Glenfield Methodist Church was awarded a £500 Revenue Grant to help towards the costs of running a Warm Space during the Winter months. The idea of a Warm Space is that they are open to all and offer a safe and welcoming place for people to gather, helping those who may be struggling to heat their own homes due to high energy costs. The Glenfield Methodist Church Warm Space provided hot drinks and soup, as well as promoting wellbeing and companionship.
Jane Sowler, Warm Space Co-ordinator and Church Council Secretary says: “During the four months, we averaged 40 people per session (so around 600 visits). Since the project has ended, we have continued to invite people into our building each Monday for a two-hour coffee and chat session, which has also been well attended and gratefully received by those who come along.
The whole event was a positive experience for those visiting and for those of us serving our community. We hope that this small action helped those who experience loneliness to find some comfort in meeting with others… and very much hope that BDC will be in a position to offer funding for the 2024-25 winter season.”
Winstanley Wizards were awarded a £500 Everyone Active Grant in September 2023 to help them meet unexpected price rises at the premises they use. The club hires two halls, three times a week, so a price rise had a significant impact on club finances. The club has approximately 80 members (mainly juniors) and serves one of the most deprived parts of the district. They offer reasonable subs and a ‘pay as you go’ option to ensure accessibility.
John Greening, Honorary Treasurer, says: “These funds have helped our recovery. Maintaining stable finances is vital for us to continue providing a voluntary sporting structure for adults and especially young people.”
Blaby and District Spartans Inclusive Football Club was awarded a £500 Everyone Active grant through the Council’s community grants scheme in June 2023. The Club is committed to making football accessible and enjoyable to everyone and welcomes individuals with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, ADHD, Down's syndrome, social anxiety, severe asthma, autism, epilepsy, and hearing impairment.
Beth Russell, treasurer of the Club, tells us how they have spent the grant money in the last year:
“We used the £500 grant to subsidise the pitch hire while we started our junior and youth provision, supporting children aged 6 - 16 with a range of additional needs to enjoy football. When we applied for the grant, we had a handful of regular players attending. Now we have 30 players regularly training, and next season our under 12s will be playing in their first league - the East Midlands Pan-Disability League.
"We support players with a range of additional needs to access football that they previously couldn't, increasing their confidence and social skills too. Parents feel they are less isolated and have met people going through similar diagnosis pathways.
"Without this invaluable grant the club would not have been able to get this provision off the ground but now it is self-sufficient.”
The Friday Social started off the back of a Warm Space group that met in Braunstone Town during Winter 2022/23. Set up originally to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents struggling with high energy costs or feelings of isolation, regulars from the Warm Space wanted to keep on meeting beyond the Winter months. However, the group needed financial help with room hire, refreshment and insurance costs to be able to continue. The group received a £1000 Revenue Grant in June 2023 to do just that.
Lin Burrows, Chair of the Friday Social, says: “The grant scheme has been an amazing help to us. We would never have been able to carry on this long… without the money kindly given by Blaby District Council. We have been able to offer a meeting place for so many isolated people: to give them a chance to learn new crafts or skills, or just to sit and chat, play games or read a paper or book.
"The outcomes have been really positive: attendees enjoyed coming along so much that the group is continuing to meet each Friday. We’ve averaged 23 people each week and are continuing to get new people coming along. Thank you.”