Community Grants
The Blaby District Council Community Grants scheme is open for 2025-26. The scheme supports the local voluntary and community sector (VCS) to develop and strengthen community facilities and activities for the benefit of Blaby district residents. We offer the following grants to suit different project types:
- Capital Green Grants - up to £5,000 (20% match funding required)
- Large Capital Grants - up to £5,000 (50% match funding required)
- Small Capital Grants - up to £500
- Revenue Grants - up to £500
- Everyone Active Grants - up to £500
We have made some changes to the criteria for this year. Please read the information on this page carefully, including the guidance notes that are available to download below.
- The maximum amount for Capital and Capital Green Grant applications has risen to £5,000. Match-funding requirements of 50% and 20% respectively remain the same
- Applications from food banks will only be considered if the organisation is affiliated with a recognised national network, such as the Trussell Trust, or an appropriate national body or a Parish Council
- The frequency criteria have changed. Organisations are generally ineligible to receive funding more than once within a 24-month period. Exceptions to this rule include applications that align with special priority criteria set by the panel:
- Capital Green Grant applications
- Warm Space initiatives or other urgent cost-of-living support projects
- Support for organisations affected by significantly high energy or fuel costs
- All applicants must provide comprehensive financial information and explain why the grant is needed. This no longer applies just in the case of applicants holding over £50,000 of funds in their bank accounts/reserves
- All applicants must provide accurate evidence of the number of estimated beneficiaries of their project from Blaby district. For example, through membership numbers, annual footfall figures, or historic service user data. If your organisation covers a wider area than Blaby district (such as county-wide), you are also required to state what proportion of your total beneficiaries are from Blaby district
Application deadlines
We will hold four grant rounds during 2025-26. The deadlines for applications are:
- Friday 6 June 2025 at 5pm
- Friday 19 September 2025 at 5pm
- Friday 5 December 2025 at 5pm
- Friday 6 March 2026 at 5pm
The grant panel usually meets within two weeks of the grant deadline and applicants are notified within a further week.
Want to find out more? Our Funding and Awards Officer is holding a Grants Information Session on Wednesday 14 May at 12-1pm. This will be a chance to hear more about the scheme and the different grants on offer. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the application process. If you are interested in our Green Grant, the Council’s Net Zero Programme Delivery Officer will also be attending. There is no need to book, simply join the meeting using the following link on the day: Join the information session - 14 May at 12pm
Who can apply?
Our grants scheme is open to applications from a range of VCS organisations:
- Community groups, youth clubs and sports clubs
- Registered Charities
- Social Enterprises (such as Community Interest Companies)
- PTA/fundraising groups can apply for projects that are not deemed the statutory responsibility of the School/Academy/Trust
- Churches/Religious bodies can only apply for either capital grants relating to distinct community spaces/halls open to the whole community, or revenue grants that relate to community events open to all, irrespective of faith
- Food banks will be considered if the organisation is affiliated with a recognised national network, such as the Trussell Trust, or has formal affiliation with an appropriate national body or a Parish Council
Organisations can only apply for one grant at a time. Organisations are generally ineligible to receive funding more than once within a 24-month period. Exceptions to this rule include applications that align with special priority criteria set by the panel:
- Capital Green Grant applications
- Warm Space initiatives or other urgent cost-of-living support projects
- Support for organisations affected by significantly high energy or fuel costs
How to apply
The same application form is used for all of the different grants. You can apply to the grants scheme online on this web page.
You will need to provide some supporting documents as listed below when you apply, so please have these ready to upload. If you apply online and you want to save your application as you go, you will need to log in using your My Account. We recommend that you do log in and save your work regularly when using the online application to avoid your session timing out. It also means we will be able to retrieve your application if you experience any problems. You may find it helpful to download the Application Questions document at the bottom of this webpage before you begin. You will receive a confirmation email and reference number upon successful submission of an online application. For more information and to register for My Account visit the My Account webpage
If you would prefer to submit your application by email or post, please use the contact form at the bottom of this web page to request an application pack. Completed forms should be sent to the Funding and Awards Officer, Council Offices, Desford Road, Narborough LE19 2EP or email grants@blaby.gov.uk. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within a few working days, please contact the Funding and Awards Officer on 0116 272 7566 to ensure receipt.
To be eligible, applicants must have the following in place and provide with their application:
- A governing document (for example, Constitution or Articles of Association)
- An equality policy/statement (if not included within the governing document)
- A child safeguarding policy and/or vulnerable adults’ policy (if applicable)
- A statement for each bank/savings accounts held in your organisation’s name (dated within the last three months)
- The organisation’s most recent set of accounts showing all income sources
- Three quotes for any single items or works over the value of £1,000 (if applicable)
- Evidence of any consents/permissions in order for the project to take place, for example, Planning Permission, Advertising Consent or Landowner Consent (if applicable). These must be secured before the application is submitted
- Where the project involves alterations to land or buildings, the applicant must provide evidence of ownership or a written agreement/lease with at least five years remaining (if applicable)
We expect all grant recipients to comply with periodic checks and complete our monitoring form at the end of a project, including providing copies of invoices showing the expenditure on the project as well as any evidence of the intended outcomes being achieved. Our standard terms and conditions can be found in the main community grants scheme guidance notes.
Case studies
Read about how the scheme has helped other organisations and what they think about the grants process:
The Cricket Club was awarded £4,000 towards the purchase and installation of battery storage for their existing solar power scheme. The Club had already invested in solar panels but wanted to extend the benefit through battery storage to cover electricity used when the club house is open during the evenings, and to run appliances overnight. Their hope was to reduce running costs significantly to help future sustainability of the Club and keep costs for members and hirers reasonable.
“The solar batteries have been installed and already we have reduced our grid electricity reliance. We are now able to rely much more on solar power (not 100% but significantly) so this not only reduces our bills but our CO2 too”.
Gather Create Grow (GCG) was awarded £500 to purchase a laptop to help with the running of their activities and community groups. GCG has a huge reach locally through their range of creative projects, all of which aim to improve individual wellbeing, reduce isolation and bring communities together.
“The laptop has already made a big difference. We've been able to grow our impact to support people's wellbeing and mental health - recently introducing a new 'Wellbeing Wednesday' social media post, sharing local groups and support across Leicestershire and online. We've been able to design a new volunteer sign up system and supporting documentation for our volunteers. The laptop will be used to guide them through the process”.
The Bowls Club was awarded £1,939 towards the purchase of new folding tables, an oven and fridge for the clubhouse and its kitchen. The grant would enable them to replace the furniture and appliances that were damaged, old and inefficient.
“Countesthorpe Bowls Club are very grateful for the Community Grant funding from Blaby District Council, which has enabled us to improve our club facilities… These additions will help us host regular social events that will bring both our Members and the wider community in… The new items have made the Club 'fresher’…(and)…make the Club more attractive to existing and potential users of our facilities”.
The group was awarded £400 towards a meal out, bringing isolated service users and volunteers on the scheme together. Whetstone Good Neighbour Scheme is run entirely by volunteers who support residents in need with a range of practical tasks, as well as providing some befriending support. The event is intended to bring people out of their homes and encourage new friendships. This year, 46 service users and eight volunteers attended.
“Feedback from this annual event has been very positive with users enjoying the companionship and uplifting atmosphere”.
The charity was awarded £500 towards the cost of an advisor. This includes providing advice and advocacy support to people on a range of matters, including welfare benefits, debt, housing and mental health. The organisation had since and increase in demand as some residents struggle with cost-of-living challenges and other complex needs. In the first six-month period alone of their grant (June – December 2024).
“We have helped 134 Blaby residents during the grant period, dealt with 314 pieces of work for them and helped to bring in £116,960 for them by way of extra welfare benefits”.