Green projects to be offered grants

GRANTS of up to £3,000 are available for community groups and organisations to develop ‘green’ projects through support from Leicestershire County Council.

The Shire Environment Grant scheme invites applications from groups and organisations who are looking at new, innovative projects to minimise household waste, reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity.

The council’s remit is to fund projects which maintain or build on some of the positive environmental benefits which have arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as increased involvement in the local community and a greater appreciation of nature.

Some examples provided by the council range from the supporting sustainable ‘green’ spaces, reducing the amount of household waste and greenhouse gas emissions within communities as well as, improving biodiversity.

Projects supported by the grant scheme include The Fearon Hall ‘Upcycle Your Life’ project run by the Loughborough centre to build a community of likeminded individuals with a common goal of reducing, reusing and recycling, and the Age UK Men in Sheds project - Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland developed a ‘Men and Women in Sheds’ facility in Loughborough.

Projects reducing carbon emissions could also help to promote a ‘green recovery’ from COVID-19 in the county, and support the council’s wider aim of Leicestershire becoming carbon neutral before of by 2050.

Coun Blake Pain, cabinet member for action on climate change, said: “Local awareness of taking care of the environment and combating climate change continues to increase, and, with less use of cars and more walking and cycling, we want to encourage more groups around the county to come forward and apply.”

Projects must be located in Leicestershire (not including Leicester City or Rutland). An application process is also available for smaller grants of up to £300.

The application deadline for the current round of funding is Friday, July 31.

For further information and how to apply, visit https://www.leicestershirecommunities.grants/environment-grant or email environmentgrant@leics.gov.uk