What we've been doing!

This month the team have been busy delivering more grant surgeries in Lutterworth and Market Harborough. Grants officers, Claire Betts and Serretta Morris, supported by Becky Nixon, Community Engagement Team Leader, spoke to 17 organisations about their plans.  Katie Fox, section 106 grants officer was also available. 

Becca Powell, Youth Engagement Officer, started the month with another Youth Council meeting which focussed on skills and opportunities for young people in the district and has since been planning for the next one which was held in Lutterworth on Monday 28 April.

We each went along to draft Local Plan drop in events in Scraptoft, Lutterworth, Great Glen, and Broughton Astley to support other teams in delivering information sharing events, where residents could come along and find out more and ask questions on the draft Local Plan. The consultation is open for a few more days until 6 May 2025.

Becky will write more about volunteering and getting people involved in the next newsletter - it will be Volunteers' Week from 2-8 June 2025.

Community Grant Updates

A reminder that round three of the Community Grant closes on 19 May 2025, with decisions to be made by councillors at the Cabinet Sub-Committee Grants on 24 June. 

Overview of spring grants surgeries

We held four grants surgeries in March and April across the district to discuss potential projects for Community, Environmental and S106 Grant funds. Officers were able to advise on a large number of projects, including:

• New vans to deliver services, IT equipment, signage, upgrading lighting to LED, indoor toilets and kitchen upgrades, outdoor recreational area furniture, play equipment and tree planting, astro pitch upgrade, village hall improvements,  MVAS signs, defibrillators, woodland improvements for community use.

Positive feedback we've had on the grants surgeries (to encourage groups to attend!) includes:

"A clear explanation of the grant process, explanation of the rounds that money is released in, the probable timing of the next round of grants and all my questions were answered. Truly fabulous. Also lovely to meet Claire who was as helpful in person as she has been by email."

"Understanding what was needed to maximise our chance of getting a positive result."

"Having the opportunity to discuss a potential grant application project with the Community Grants Team prior to submission. To have the validation that your project proposal meets the criteria for applying to the Community Grant Fund."

The fourth and final round  opens on 30 June 2025. Some of the area allocations are spent, but please tell us about your project ideas, as we may have other suggestions for you or we can feed your needs into future developments. 

Download the guidance for full information about how to apply and contact Claire and Serretta at communitygrants@harborough.gov.uk to talk through your project.

Summer grants surgeries

The following grants surgeries have been arranged. These are for anyone to talk to us about a potential project for the Community or Environmental Grants or advice about other funding, and where parish and town councils and parish meetings can talk to us about how they can encourage applications from their areas:

Market Harborough  25 June - 9.30 – 1.00

Ullesthorpe                 3 July - 1.00 – 4.00

Thurnby                      4 July - 9.30 - 12.30

Surgeries give people the chance to talk to a grants officer face-to-face and get advice about what will and won't be funded and how to structure the application for the best chance of success. People can come to any of the dates that suit them, and can also book an appointment to talk about about section 106 funding.

Please book in advance for a slot to help us manage the sessions and so that you don't need to wait.

Environmental Grant Update

• Reduce the carbon footprint of the community
• Reduce the waste produced in the community: communities striving to reduce the amount of waste produced within their boundaries, fostering a culture of responsible waste management.
• Create, or protect and enhance, biodiversity or environmental assets such as green spaces and waterways: initiatives focused on creating, protecting, and enhancing biodiversity, as well as safeguarding environmental assets such as green spaces and waterways.
• Educate and/or raise awareness of climate change that will result in one of the above outcomes.

Please see the guidance document for full information.

Organisations are encouraged to discuss their project with the grants officers in advance of their application by contacting communitygrants@harborough.gov.uk or booking an appointment at a grants surgery.

A council can adopt either CIL, S106, or a mix of both. The CIL approach helps a local authority to deliver larger infrastructure. 

Harborough District Council (HDC) has adopted a S106 approach, where once the contributions have been paid, the money is spent through a grant system. The S106 process (requesting contributions and funding projects) needs to meet three tests set out by the CIL regulations:

1. Necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms

2. Directly related to the development

3. Fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind.

S106 contributions are requested at the planning application stage. For community facilities, sports, and open spaces, formulas are used based on the number of dwellings and estimated increase in residents. HDC also draws on adopted strategies and policies, neighbourhood plans, and conversations with relevant groups (such as parish/town councils and community groups) for supporting evidence, so it's important that parishes and groups contribute to these to influence what funding is designated for. Other S106 contributions, such as those for health or police are requested directly by the relevant governing body.

Once a planning application is approved, HDC and the developer agree the terms, which vary for each development. Some agreements may include payments before building starts, or at different phases of the build. Once trigger points are reached, contributions are paid to HDC, and the available funding sheet is updated. Eligible groups are then invited to apply for funding.

Any constituted community group, charity, or parish/town council is welcome to apply for S106 funding for their project. The S106 grants officer, Katie Fox, would be happy to discuss your project or future plans. Contact her at grants@harborough.gov.uk

Youth Council activities 

On Thursday 3 April we hosted the third Harborough District Youth Council meeting with another great turn out of about 17 young people. 

Focus on skills and opportunities for young people

We are continuing to focus on areas the young people identified as areas of interest to them. 

Next steps for the Youth Council

We will look at working with members and other young people to develop a Youth Council vision and action plan that can influence others and inform specific projects. Alongside this we will develop a learning programme so that young people can increase their skills and knowledge. Youth Council members have also indicated that they would like to set up formal roles and structures, and so we will be working with them on shaping these and devising an election or selection process.

The next Youth Council meeting

This was held on Monday 28 April 2025 at Lutterworth College where our Strategic Planning team talked to young people about the draft Local Plan and asked for their views on how they would like the district to develop. There were lots of ideas, and these will be written up into a formal response.

Meetings are 5.30pm-7.30pm and currently alternate between Market Harborough and Lutterworth, although this is something we will be reviewing with the Youth Council to maximise accessibility participation. 

Join the Youth Council!

 Although we have participants from across the district, we would also like to make sure all secondary schools and colleges in the area are equitably represented, particularly Kibworth Mead Academy and Thomas Estley Community College - so get in touch with Becca if you can help with this.

Youth Council contributes to the National Youth Strategy

This sparked some really important conversations about the challenges young people are facing and the things that are worrying them right now. They shared some brilliant ideas around hopes for a better, safer future, no more cost-of-living crisis, more job opportunities, better transport, better roads, more regulations around social media, a healthier, happier environment for wildlife to thrive and more affordable housing.

The young people were encouraged to spend some time completing the survey and Youth Engagement Officer, Becca, submitted feedback to the national consultation.  

Community spotlight: sharing your stories and inspiration

This section shares successes and good practice across the district to inspire others. 

Café Fifty Five: a year of community at the heart of Thurnby

On 24 March, community engagement staff Becky Nixon and Serretta Morris attended Café Fifty Five's first birthday celebration. The team had previously visited the venue and were impressed by the mix of local café to draw a wide range of people in, at the same time as running community activities in partnership with other organisations that are targeted at particular individuals to meet identified needs.  The café also opens up onto an outside play area, making it a great place for parents and carers to socialise while children play.

Background

In 2023, a long-standing vision by St Luke’s Church in Thurnby came to life with the transformation of a disused sports pavilion on the edge of Manor Park. The result was Café Fifty Five – a community café and hub designed to offer welcome, support, and connection for local residents.

Responding to local needs

Café Fifty Five hosts a range of community services developed in response to identified needs. The venue provides a free and welcoming space for both informal gatherings and structured support groups.  The cafe also offers informal opportunities for social interaction through regular events like a Wednesday drop-in for conversation, games, and puzzles.

Community impact

After only one year the space is having a positive effect. Café Fifty Five tracks the changes for people as a result of participating in group activities, and people have reported improved well-being, increased social connection, and emotional support.

Events and activities

Over to Café Fifty Five....

Serretta asked Café Fifty Five a series of questions on topics that we thought might be of interest to other organisations, here are their replies.

Café Fifty Five was born from a vision to serve the local community. Now that the café has celebrated its first birthday can you describe the role it plays in the lives of local residents today?

Café Fifty Five is set up to be place of community, help and hope for all. It has become a meeting point for so many people and for some, they visit daily. Many residents have seen Café Fifty Five as a place of welcome and have found new friendships, tried new things and received support in lots of different ways. It allows those in the community who feel isolated to feel part of a family.

What have been some of the most rewarding moments since Café Fifty Five started welcoming the local community?

On August bank holiday 2024 we had a summer BBQ and fete. It was a wonderful afternoon where the community came together on Manor Park. There was the sense that this is what had been missing for the community to gather together and people had a great time.

Since starting to host the LOROS Bereavement Hub we have seen a new community of people being formed. These people have a shared experience and from that they have built new friendship groups.

What do you think are the main challenges for people locally? 

In the initial survey we carried out in our local community, loneliness was a challenge for many. Also access to many services is a problem particularly as we are in the sat on the border between Harborough District and Leicester City Council. Many services operate a 30-minute car journey away in Market Harborough and there is no direct bus.

Do you have any stories you can share on the impact these groups have had on the local community?

As part of ongoing monitoring of how the activities held for the community in Café Fifty Five meet the values and vision, we produced a feedback form to be completed by individuals who take part in these activities. The results offered reflections on what outcomes have been achieved by asking the question how people taking part in the activity felt before and after. We offered a multiple choice positive and negative word wall and overall people felt a lot more positive after attending their chosen activity.  Here are some direct quotes:

• Memory Café: “Memory café helped my wife remember things and made her happy.”

• LOROS bereavement group: “It has brought reassurance that I’ll find a way through what I’m going through. It also offers practical advice which has been very helpful. Nothing is too much trouble,” and, “Helped me move forward. I’ve made new friends who I now see outside the group”.

• Toddlers Story Time: “My daughter’s language has improved. Having a free weekly activity helps with finances – baby groups are so expensive – it’s great we can socialise and learn free of charge.”

• Music Memory Box: “Improved mood. Able to sing to feel happy. Good to be with other people.”

You host a wide range of groups. How did these partnerships come about?

Can you tell us about the process of how a new community group might begin using the space? And are there any values you look for when deciding which services or groups to host?

The values considered when deciding if a community group, charity or service can use space in the café are based on it being a place of welcome and community, help and hope for all. This means that it is not a space for rent or for promoting a business or products. It needs to provide a solution to a need that has been identified in the community and ultimately the café management and directors make the final call.

Are there any services or activities that you think are missing from your program that you would like to deliver in partnership with others?

We notice a need for a support group for new and expectant parents and have recently trailed a weekly drop in. The plan is to bring professionals into these meetings and offer advice and answer questions.

What would you say to another community that is considering launching a similar project?

Go for it! Listen to what your community needs. Be practical in your approach, don’t be afraid to try new things and remember not every activity will be successful, but it’s good to have tried it!

What support makes these services possible; and is there any further support Café Fifty Five would like in the future?

Working in partnership

The Harborough District Council community engagement team is always looking for ways to bring groups together in the Harborough district as groups often tell that there are local residents that they find it harder to connect with. Running events in partnership with other groups is one way to get in touch with different residents.

If you are part of a group that would like to link more with other groups, contact us, we may be able to share information about your service.

Helping to make Harborough District an age-friendly community: how can you participate?

As we get older our physical, social, emotional and mental health needs change over time.

Community Champions is working with partner agencies who are keen to ensure that our local communities are welcoming and inclusive for people of all ages and have started using the World Health Organisation’s Age Friendly Communities Framework. The framework covers 8 key areas (domains) that are deemed to be significant factors that have an impact on how well people age:

1. Outdoor spaces and buildings

2. Transport

3. Housing

4. Social participation

5. Respect and social inclusion

6. Civic participation and employment

7. Communication and information

8.  Community support and health services

Sharing your good practice

To help with this work, Community Champions would like to ask town and parish councils / meetings and local community groups whether they could share any examples of good practice within any of these areas or, conversely, if there are barriers to older people participating within communities, and how you think these could be tackled.

If you have any feedback, thoughts or examples to share then please contact Rohini, VASL Community Champions Manager at champions@vasl.org.uk.

An example of Community Champions' partnership working with schools has recently been featured as a guest blog by Befriending Networks about the inter-generational work that Community Champions has done with Welland Park Academy and Robert Smyth Academy.

Waterways wellbeing - Canal and River Trust

Funding and resources from other organisations

This section contains a selection of grants outside HDC that community groups can apply for.

While HDC provides grants for communities, groups often need to find further funding to complete projects. Here are some suggestions of other funders that have come across our radar this month that groups may be able to apply to. Inclusion does not imply that we endorse the funder, but we have spotted it and it seems applicable to the types of projects that we get enquiries about.

With all grants, check the small print for exclusions such as types of organisations and annual turnover to ensure that you're eligible.

It may also be worth searching for the funder on the Charity Commission website and downloading its annual report to see if you can find out more, or some funders report on 360Giving.

We would love to know if you have been successful applying to any of these to build up our knowledge of what funders are prioritising.

See our previous newsletters for other funding suggestions, while some are included in response to specific funding rounds, others are ongoing or will be reopening in the future.

Funding on various themes

Harborough Twenty12 Lions - closing 10 May 2025

Harborough Twenty12 Lions is encouraging community groups in and around Market Harborough to bid for one of ten awards, each of up to £300. To find out more and get an application form, email their treasurer Maggie at margaretshuter@hotmail.com 

Asda Foundation Local Community Spaces Fund

The Asda Foundation's Local Community Spaces Fund will invest over £1 million in 2025 to support accessible community spaces across the UK that help tackle loneliness and isolation. Grants of £10,000–£20,000 are available for repairing, renovating, or developing spaces where people can meet, seek support, and access services. 

Eligible projects must show that Asda Foundation funding will cover at least 50% of total costs (and up to 90%). Applications open 7 May 2025 and close 28 May 2025 (or earlier if oversubscribed).

The Wakeham Trust - small projects that are harder to get funding for

This small, privately funded, volunteer-run trust provides very small grants, typically between £125 and £2,500, to grassroots community projects across the UK that are too new, local, or unconventional to attract mainstream funding. With a strong emphasis on leverage and risk-taking, the trust prioritises initiatives led by ordinary people rather than professionals, including those empowering communities and encouraging young people’s involvement in their neighbourhoods. The trust favours projects that are outward-looking, have the potential for sustainability, and show evidence of self-help and local fundraising, even in modest amounts.

Charles Hayward Foundation - social and criminal justice and older people

The Charles Hayward Foundation  offers main and small grants depending on organisational size.

• Social and criminal justice, grants are for groups with annual incomes between   £350,000–£4 million.

• The small grants programme for work with older people is aimed at charities with incomes under £350,000. 

The foundation prioritises preventative and early intervention projects, valuing well-researched initiatives with a proven or creative approach, clear impact, and good value for money.

Leicestershire and Rutland Making Local Life Better Fund - closing 19 May 2025.

Open until 19 May 2025, the Making Local Life Better Fund supports local community groups in Leicestershire and Rutland, particularly smaller groups, who improve the lives of local people, particularly who are vulnerable, under-represented or disadvantaged. Grants are between £1,000 and £3,000. The fund can cover costs that can be difficult to find funding for elsewhere such as core costs, staffing, training and skills development, rent, hire, premises cost, volunteer expenses, and some equipment and materials (generally smaller items).

There is a further round this year open between June and December.

Getting further support

Previous newsletters

See previous editions of our newsletter for good practice resources and funding suggestions.

Get in touch

Let us know what you're doing! We welcome information that is relevant to community action and voluntary and community groups

communities@harborough.gov.uk | communitygrants@harborough.uk youthvoice@harborough.gov.uk

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