Thousands of residents benefitting from council’s community work

A report to councillors on the Scrutiny Committee highlighted just some of the community work the Borough Council has been involved in over the last two years.

Ten thousand residents benefitted from £86,244 of grant funding distributed to the voluntary and community sector by the Borough Council in 2023/24.

The work of the council’s Welfare Support team was highlighted amid increasing demand for the service. 1,210 residents were supported in the first three quarters of 2024/25 in a number of ways including providing emergency food access, grants and benefits.

The Warm Welcome initiative, used by thousands of residents in more than 60 venues across the borough, was highlighted as a success. So too was last year's uniform Swap Shop project, which coincided with a near-to-4% reduction in foodbank usage over the summer months when families often experience hardship buying new uniforms. It is being relaunched this spring.

Last year, the council also appointed a Food Poverty officer to address food poverty in the borough. Their achievements so far include mental health training for foodbank volunteers and setting up a Food Poverty Network.

Councillor Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Communities and the Voluntary Sector, said: “I would like to give my thanks to council staff, partners and of course to our borough’s great volunteers and community groups.

“Their work has helped so many in Hinckley and Bosworth, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis that so many have been feeling the effects of. Congratulations to them for their great work.”

Also at the forefront of the Borough Council’s community work are children and young people. The community safety youth outreach team reported they have worked with around 1,300 young people in the last year, diverting them away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

It is important to the Borough Council that young people in Hinckley and Bosworth have a voice, whether that be through school councils, youth groups or the annual Youth Conference each December. 

Work with thousands of young people covers topics from democracy and wellbeing to road safety and knife crime. The Borough Council also works hard to protect children and young people, including therapeutic work programmes for those affected by domestic abuse. 

Councillor Robin Webber-Jones, Children and Young People’s Champion at the Borough Council, said: “It is fantastic to see so much good work being done with children and young people in our borough.  

“The council officers’ work is wide ranging, from protection and crime prevention through to youth groups and work experience placements – among many other things. My thanks go out to them for their continued work.”