In this newsletter

What we've been doing!

The team have been busy out in the district. We've launched year two of the £1m Community Grants (plus an underspend round from year one), so Grants Officers Serretta Morris and Claire Betts hosted grant surgeries in Lutterworth and Market Harborough. The team has been out with the community engagement van to talk to residents about the Community Wellbeing Plan and Becca Powell, Youth Engagement Officer, hosted the first Youth Council meeting of the academic year. 

Gemma Finan, Community Development Officer, has been settling in well with the team, meeting with individuals and organisations across the district to see how the new role can support people and groups. Gemma will focus specifically on building the capacity of organisations to support people in the district who are most in need due to issues of disadvantage, poverty, poor health or wellbeing, mobility issues, isolation etc. We are really excited about this new area of work, and would love parishes and community groups to get involved to make it a success.

We have two face-to-face parish liaison meetings this week covering a range of topics, the first on Tuesday 30 September in Market Harborough, the second on Thursday in Lutterworth. Details of these were circulated to parish chairs and clerks.

Community Grant Updates

***Launch of year two of the £1m Community Grant***

The first round of Year two of the £1m Community Grant opened on 26 September and will close on 26 October 2025, with two more rounds and a final underspend round to follow. The criteria, process and parish allocations remain similar to year one. Full details about how to apply are online.

As a reminder, the Community Grant funding is for capital projects which create lasting assets across the Harborough District, such as improvements to building, facilities, or purchasing and installing equipment. Routine maintenance or repairs are generally not eligible except for in exceptional circumstances. We may consider funding essential repair works where a full replacement would be disproportionate, environmentally unsustainable, or risk harm to a structure of recognised heritage or community value. This may be particularly relevant where repair enables continued use of a key local facility in smaller parishes or rural areas. Such applications must clearly evidence (a) why the repair is the most appropriate and sustainable option; (b) how the asset contributes to community benefit; and (c) why alternative funding is not available. 

As before, Grants Officers are available to support you with applications and answer any questions you may have or come along to one of the November grants surgeries (see below). 

Please continue to share your project ideas with us - we may be able to advise on eligibility and how to apply for the new Community Grant, or suggest alternative sources of funding.

You may also find inspiration from the spotlight section in this newsletter which focuses on some of the completed projects from year one of the grant and the difference they have made to their communities.

***Underspend Round - for the year one £1m Community Grant***

Following over £870k awards made for the final round of the first £1m Community Grant, and a further application due to be heard at the next Sub-Committee Grants, there remains a small underspend of £73,623. Cabinet Sub-Committee Grants has approved an underspend round to complete this first year of the grant. This final round launched on 26 September and will close on 26 October 2025 (running concurrently with round one of year two of the grant).

Groups will be able to apply where any one of the following applies:

• They are groups that deliver services across the district who have not been able to apply previously. Evidence will be required of existing services or activities delivered in the district.

• They are in parishes who have not received any Community Grant funding in the first year.

• They are in parishes that have not used their full allocation. No funding will be given to a group that takes a parish above their individual allocation (in the case of small parishes, this is maximum £5k).

If there are more applications than funding available, assessment criteria considered to prioritise applications will include:

• Quality of consultation and evidence of need for the project.

• Clear demonstration of wide community benefits of the project.

• Smaller projects (e.g. under £5k).

• How much funding the parish and/or applicant has previously received from the Community Grant.

Please visit the website for further details: About the Community Grant Fund | Community Grant Fund | Harborough District Council

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.

***November grants surgeries***

To support the rounds for year two of the Community Grant, we have arranged some grant surgeries to discuss potential projects and funding ideas in general. We have had positive feedback from previous surgeries about how this has been helpful to clarify ideas and give reassurance to potential applicants about the process.

The surgeries are open to constituted, not-for-profit community organisations and parish and town councils and parish meetings.

The surgery dates and locations are:

• 13 November     2.30pm – 4.30pm     Lutterworth Churchgate Community Centre
• 17 November      9.30am – 12.30pm   Market Harborough Council Chamber

There will also be the opportunity to book a session with Home-Start South Leicestershire who can offer guidance around various aspects of volunteering.

Please click to book an appointment at one of the surgeries and a grants officer will get in touch to confirm.

Councillors' Ward Improvement Grant

The Councillors' Ward Improvement Grant Scheme is available to groups and organisations in the Harborough district. Each ward councillor has been allocated £5,000 to support initiatives of their choice within their ward which will benefit residents and/or improve the environment. The funding can be for capital or revenue projects.

Grants must be for values between £1k to £5k and grants must be paid to the organisation by 31 March 2026. Organisations must be constituted and have a bank account in the name of the organisation. 

Organisations must contact their ward councillor directly to discuss their project proposal.

See our website for an overview of the grant and some of the things that might be funded.

Tackling vulnerability together: emerging issues

Help us to address poverty, isolation, poor health, digital exclusion and more - Gemma Finan, our new Community Development Officer tells us about our new project and how people can get involved.  Over to Gemma:

I’ve now completed my first month as Community Development Officer at Harborough District Council.  I’ve been working on fact-finding and gathering information from various sources around the district to get a better picture of what needs our residents have, whether we are meeting these needs, where there are gaps in provision and if we can replicate examples of good practice in other areas. 

I have made a great start in making links with different organisations and the voluntary and community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, meeting with local groups including foodbanks, Home-Start, Lutterworth Church Gate Community Centre, The Well in Kibworth and more, with many more meetings in the pipeline.

These are some of the common themes that people are raising:

Food and fuel poverty / financial exclusion

Are your local residents aware of support services that can help with food and fuel poverty, such as Citizens Advice and The Bridge East Midlands?   

Social isolation and loneliness  

We know that social connection is essential to our mental and physical health and well-being and yet, social isolation and loneliness is something that can affect many people of all different demographics.  

Are there accessible groups that run in your local community? Are residents able to get to them easily or is transport an issue?  Is there a cost associated with attending?  Do these cater for many demographics (different ages, genders, abilities etc.)? 

Digital exclusion  

Is this a problem in your local community?

Mental health 

Mental health and wellbeing support is increasingly needed but unfortunately, not always easily accessible.  

Do you know of support services that are available for your local community?  Do the residents in your community know where and how to access support services for mental health?  

What issues do you see in this area of need? 

Provision for young people 

We know that there is a limited number of activities and resources for young people across the district.  

Do you feel this is an issue in your local community? 

Does your local community have groups/clubs/activities specifically aimed at young people?  If so, we’d love to talk to you about how this was set up and how it runs. We would also love to hear what you think is needed to improve youth provision in your local community.

If you feel these are issues that affect your local area, or even if there are different issues than those above that you have highlighted, please do get in touch.  I’d love to hear your views and to add to the broader picture across the district.

Contact Gemma at communities@harborough.gov.uk or 07936 360191 

Harborough District Community Awards 2025 

The award categories this year are: 

• Voluntary and Community Group of the Year

• Young Person of the Year (11-18yrs)

• Volunteer of the Year (19-59yrs)

• Volunteer of the Year (60+yrs)

• The Citizenship Cup (replacing the Special Recognition Award)

Plus two new awards:

• Stronger Together: Workplace Impact Award

• Business-Community Impact of the Year, supported by The Market Harborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

We'll be holding the event at Lutterworth College this year. The Harborough District Youth Council will be presenting the nominees for the Young Person of the Year category and sharing the success of the Youth Council so far with attendees.

Information and photos will be shared on the council's social media accounts and on our website after the event, and we will also feature this in our next newsletter.

Section 106 

Youth Council activities 

The first Youth Council meeting of the new academic year took place last week at Lutterworth College. We welcomed six new members, and they engaged really well with other members and the activities.

What the Youth Council has been working on

The Youth Council members have chosen to have roles such as Chair and Vice Chair and we have begun the process of appointing to these roles. The young people were invited to express their interest in which roles they’d like to apply for and following this they will work on manifestos and present them to the Youth Council before the voting opens online. The roles will be announced in November’s meeting.

Design a logo for the Youth Council!

We are excited that The Speak Out project run by HCYC is running a logo design competition for the Harborough District Youth Council.  Anyone 11-18 from the Harborough District can enter. The logo can be hand drawn, painted or designed on a computer and the closing date is 14 November 2025.

See the brief for guidance and how to enter, including a word cloud designed from Youth Council members' thoughts.

Join the Youth Council!

We are still keen to welcome new members. We have monthly meetings on a Thursday 5.30pm-7.30pm. The meetings alternate between Lutterworth and Market Harborough on Thursdays each month. We provide transport through Lutterworth Community Transport and Market Harborough Community Transport to make the meetings as accessible as possible.

Although we have participants from across the district, we would also like to make sure young people from all secondary schools and colleges in the area are equitably represented, particularly in areas around Kibworth Mead Academy and Thomas Estley Community College. So get in touch with Becca if you can help with this or know young people in those areas who would like to get involved.

Neighbourhood Planning funding: FAQS

Harborough District Council has published answers to frequently asked questions after The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the withdrawal of funding for the neighbourhood planning support programme from 2025, following a government spending review.

Locality, the organisation previously commissioned to deliver grants and technical support, has ceased accepting new applications. Existing support packages will continue until March 2026, but no new groups or plans will be eligible for funding.

Communities with plans already underway can still submit them to Harborough District Council, which remains responsible for guiding plans through examination and referendum. While formal support has ended, Locality’s advice service is still available, and Harborough District Council continues to offer guidance.

For further information please contact Matthew Bills, Neighbourhood and Green Spaces Officer, m.bills@harborough.gov.uk |07703211863

Community spotlight: sharing your stories and inspiration

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

Completed Community Grant projects

We are excited to see reports and photos coming in of completed Community Grant projects - we will be sharing some of these in more detail in this newsletter and on Harborough District Council website and social media - but here's a taster in the meantime.

Bitteswell Village Hall

The new disabled facilities have already provided a much-needed benefit for a local boy who uses the hall regularly and elderly members of the groups have found the automated access system very easy to use. In addition, booking enquiries have increased, attracted by the new décor and improved catering facilities.

Dunton and Broughton United Football Club

Mowsley Village Hall

What makes a good Community Grant application?

Case study from Harborough Band

Harborough Band submitted a successful application in round one for a set of timpani, new music stands and custom stand banners. This was a very well-structured application that clearly demonstrated need and impact; officers were impressed by the rigorous process the band undertook to demonstrate the benefits that the band brings to the community and to musicians, and why the grant was needed.  

Janet Roberts, Harborough Band's treasurer describes the process they went through in an interview further down.

In addition to identifying a tangible need for new instruments and equipment to support the sustainability of the organisation; the band demonstrated evidence of need and community benefit through audience and member surveys, fundraising, and community feedback. This approach demonstrated to the council that local people value the organisation and want to see it continue to thrive, it also establishes Harborough Band as a valued community asset, meeting HDC priorities.

The band also showed their commitment to community with their local free concerts, for example in Welland Park, and fundraising events such as their eight-hour playing marathon under the Old Grammar School and annual Christmas carolling.

By combining consultation, survey data, and examples of community benefit, Harborough Band built a strong application, showing that the grant’s benefits extend beyond its own members.

This emphasis on consultation and shared value, alongside sustainability planning and alignment with council priorities, is an excellent example of how groups can demonstrate that their projects are not just well-meaning, but well-supported and meaningfully enhance our community.

Interview with Janet Roberts, Treasurer of Harborough Band

Janet expanded on some of the factors that helped them to meet the criteria in the Community Grant - in particularly demonstration that they were meeting needs in the community, sought community feedback and demonstrated their impact not just on their members but to the wider community and other organisations.

Q: How important has audience and member feedback been in shaping the band’s priorities, and what did you learn from the surveys you carried out? Why was this so important to do in advance of making the application?

This engagement has always been verbal and therefore not easy to demonstrate to outside bodies. We decided that to document this process for the purposes of the grant application we would undertake a survey of both band members and people attending a concert so that we could evidence this in our application.

As we have always encouraged feedback and were not expecting any surprises but in fact when we undertook the survey process we found that although the majority of audience members were from the local area others had travelled some distance to attend. The survey of members was also useful as this did confirm the strengths of the band as an organisation but did raise some points that the committee had not considered and were able to incorporate into our ethos.

Q: What do you think this feedback says about the band’s place in the community? 

The feedback from the audience was very positive and showed that the band is considered to be very much a part of Market Harborough culture by both local residents and those travelling further. The members survey also strongly confirmed that the members considered Market Harborough to be the bands "home" and that their sense of being part of the Market Harborough community was important to them.

Q: Harborough Band donates part of its carolling collections to local charities. Why was it important to the band to do this? 

The importance of this goes back to the fact that the band consider themselves to be part of the Harborough community and that this is important to them. Carolling over the Christmas period is the main fundraiser for the band and in a good year can generate up to a third of our income. We are very grateful for both the generosity and support of the shoppers and residents of Market Harborough who put money into our collecting tins or donate to us during this period and in recognition of this generosity and to demonstrate our support of the wider community of which we are a part we feel that it is correct that some of this generosity is shared with other local charities who are unable to collect donations in this way.

Q: You provide opportunities for local people to play together, offering instruments free of charge to make participation accessible, how important is this to the band? 

It is important that membership of the band is open to everyone and the need for them to have their own instrument would be a barrier to many as a single instrument may cost in excess of £10,000. In order for the band to play music there has to be a certain mix of different instruments and therefore it is vital that the band owns and maintains instruments which are provided to players without any additional cost to them as many of the larger instruments would be unaffordable to most individuals. It is also important that we are an open organisation providing opportunities for anyone with the necessary musical ability to join as without new and younger members joining us the band would literally die.

Getting crafty for Christmas: We're looking for community groups to help decorate Market Harborough’s Tree

The Christmas tree lights switch on event will be on Saturday 22 November from 5pm with the lights being switched on at 6.30pm for people to admire their creations!

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 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.

Grant fundraising is challenging at the moment, with many funders closing programmes early or completely, reviewing or narrowing programmes, and some moving to invitation only because of the volume of applications they're receiving, so make sure you sign up for email or social media alerts from the funder if applicable if you're making an application, and/or regularly check their website for changes.

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.

Getting further support

The following organisations also provide free funding resources that may be useful to groups:

• Leicestershire County Council

• Rural Services Network

• Active Together

• East Midlands Funding Forum

• Charity Excellence Framework

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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