Grant funding available

Shire Environmental Grant

Community groups and organisations are invited to apply for a SHIRE Environment Grant of up to £3,000.

The scheme run by Leicestershire County Council is accepting applications to help community-based organisations with projects that minimise household waste, reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity. It also hopes to fund projects that maintain or build upon some of the positive environmental benefits that have arisen from the coronavirus pandemic, such as increased involvement in the local community, driving less and walking and cycling more, and a greater appreciation of nature.

Projects that have benefited from a SHIRE Environment Grant previously include helping Lubenham Parish Council to replace 29 street lights with LED fittings and bulbs to reduce electricity usage; installing water harvesting tanks to collect rainwater for watering Countesthorpe Parish Council's village planters; setting up a Green Gym in Measham, where volunteers enjoy growing vegetables and improving their fitness and wellbeing, and turning Broughton Astley's urban roadside verges into wildflower verges and supporting local volunteer Fixers groups in Hinckley and Market Harborough to repair broken items within the community.

The council welcomes projects located in Leicestershire (not including Leicester City or Rutland) which help reduce the amount of household waste and greenhouse gas emissions within communities, improve biodiversity or support sustainable green spaces. Applications can be made at any time but the deadline for the current round of funding is Friday 30 October 2020.

For more information or to apply, visit: https://www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/grants/environment-grant.html, email environmentgrant@leics.gov.uk or call the Environment Team on 0116 305 7005.