New grant scheme launched by county

COMMUNITY groups and organisations can apply for grants of up to £3,000 in a new initiative by Leicestershire County Council.

The ‘SHIRE Environment Grant’ scheme was launched on Friday (November 1) and aims to help community groups and organisations fund new and innovative projects to help improve their local environment.

The scheme is particularly interested in funding projects that will help to reduce the amount of household waste and greenhouse gas emissions produced, improve biodiversity or support the creation and protection of sustainable green spaces in Leicestershire.

Types of projects the scheme hopes to support include, community give or take events, repair cafés, hot pipe insulation, LED lighting or solar panels, creation of habitats, green roofs or living walls to improve the local environment.

To apply for funding visit www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/grants/environment-grant.html

Blake Pain, the county council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “The new ‘SHIRE Environment Grant’ enables community groups and organisations to not only make environmental changes but also to improve the lives of Leicestershire residents.

“As awareness of taking care of our environment increases, we want to encourage more groups across the county to come forward and apply.”

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 28, 2020, and projects must be located in Leicestershire (not including Leicester City or Rutland).