Community Initiative funds open for applications (published 8/11/2023)

A total of £134,000 has been made available to support community projects throughout the borough. Grants are available for up to 50 per cent of the total project cost. The minimum total project cost for the scheme is £5,000 and grants cannot exceed 50% of the total project costs. A maximum of £12,000 can be allocated to any one parish area and £10,000 is available through the Hinckley community initiative fund to community groups within the town of Hinckley.

In the past these grants have helped fund a wide variety of projects such as play areas, community building improvements, new pathways, heritage trails, and sports facilities. This year to reflect the council's commitment to address the climate emergency and in line with its climate change and biodiversity strategy, projects which reduce carbon emissions or improve biodiversity will be given priority when allocating funding. Projects will be prioritised in the following order:

• Climate change/carbon reduction projects and conservation/biodiversity projects
• Play area improvements and community building projects
• Sports and fitness projects, footpaths, trails and historic features
• Landscaping projects and improvements to places of worship
• Others (schemes that meet the essential criteria but don't fall into any of the above categories)

Councillor Martin Cartwright, Executive Member responsible for Rural Communities and Environment at the Borough Council, said:

As in previous years I would like to see these grants spread as wide as possible across the parishes and variety of schemes delivered, with special emphasis on the smaller organisations as well as our parish councils. Any project with a focus on climate impact reduction or carbon reduction measures as well as biodiversity all of which will help towards the council’s ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2030 will receive extra points awarded in the overall scoring process. I would urge your community group or parish council to apply for this grant funding. Good luck.

Councillor Cathie Gibbens, Chair of the Hinckley Area Committee welcomed the initiative and said:

I am delighted the council has once again been able to continue with this funding and look forward to it continuing to have a positive impact on the development of community-based projects in the Hinckley area. Local groups – please apply.

How to apply: information about the scheme and how to register

Deadline for applications is 12 January 2024.

For more information, please contact the Green Spaces Team on 01455 255707 or email GreenSpaces@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk