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We are pleased to announce that a third round of funding has been agreed by Leicestershire County Council to support community organisations affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of £600,000 is being made available in Round 3 of the Leicestershire Communities Fund for a limited period of time (until 22^nd January 2021), for organisations delivering services for vulnerable people who live in Leicestershire.

The funding can also be used for community-based organisations to develop new and innovative ways of working, to help deliver services for vulnerable people more effectively now and in the future.

The maximum amount available to any one organisation will be £15,000 and the minimum amount is £500.

Charities, constituted voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises and faith-based organisations can apply for a maximum of £15,000 for support with the following activities:

• Support for core running costs – for organisations who have experienced a loss of income due to services closing or operating at a reduced level and where this may lead to the permanent closure of the organisation
• Extra staffing – capacity required to meet existing or increased demand for services, to support vulnerable people during the pandemic
• Adapting services – the need to adapt service delivery models to ensure key services can continue to be delivered
• Transitional costs – costs associated with developing new ways of delivering services in the future, including partnership/collaborative approaches
• Equipment – funding for ICT equipment, safety/PPE equipment, or other capital costs for items/equipment deemed acceptable in relation to the fund
• Digital Inclusion – funding to help enable service users to access services using digital technology
• Community Buildings – funding to help with the safe re-opening, usage and cleansing of community buildings, to enable services to be delivered
• Transport – funding for use of vehicles, transport, fuel etc. to enable visits to service users
• Expenses – funding for increased expenses costs such as reimbursing travel costs for staff/volunteers who need to visit service users, if it safe to do so, in their home or in other locations.
• Other – anything else deemed acceptable in relation to the criteria for the Fund

Round 3 will have an additional focus on supporting community groups who are providing a vital service to local people during the pandemic, including:

• support for people who are described as clinically extremely vulnerable
• the provision of welfare and associated support for vulnerable and disadvantaged people and families, including money/debt advice services; employment related support; food bank and associated food provisions; and access to other essential supplies and equipment
• support to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people affected by the pandemic, including projects which reduce isolation and loneliness

If you are a charity, community organisation, social enterprise or faith-based organisation who fulfils any of the above criteria, you can apply for a grant online on the Leicestershire Communities website.

Parish and Town Councils can also apply on behalf of non-constituted community organisations.

Please complete the online application form to tell us how much funding you are requesting and what the funding will be used for.

For more details, please go to: www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/communities-fund-round-3

Any enquiries regarding applications can be sent to:

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A consultation on Blaby District Council’s new Air Quality Action Plan is now open for resident’s views.

The comprehensive new plan will replace the previous version, first introduced in 2014. Work on the plan has seen the Council shift priorities to offer deliverable and sustainable objectives.

Residents are invited to offer their views on the proposals before the document is put to Cabinet Executive for approval.

Setting out to improve air quality in the district, the plan’s objectives include:

• Monitoring Nitrogen Dioxide levels throughout the district
• Work with local schools, businesses and Leicestershire County Council to try and reduce traffic levels
• To implement the Walk and Ride Blaby initiative to connect communities and places by creating and improving a sustainable transport network

The Council is also keen to work with taxi drivers, bringing them into the next generation of car ownership and encourage a shift towards EV ownership. 24 charging points will be delivered in Blaby District Council’s car parks in the coming months as part of a commitment to EV ownership.

Work to further understand traffic problems in the Air Quality Management Areas is also part of the plan. The Council currently has five Management Areas in the district, in areas including Enderby, Braunstone Town and Whetstone.

Councillor Sharon Coe, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Regulatory Services, said: “This plan set out our vision of how we want to tackle air quality over the next five years. We have a number of initiatives that we want to achieve, but want to hear what residents think before we finalise our plans.

“This is a critical issue both locally and nationally and we understand our responsibilities in ensuring our air quality is improved, to benefit the lives of residents. Please let us know what you think before the closing date.”

The consultation is open until Saturday 21 November 2020. To view the proposed Action Plan and submit your views visit the Consultations page.

Nearly £500,000 of government funding has been given out by Blaby District Council to more than 60 local businesses as part of the Discretionary Grants Scheme.

Additional funding was provided by the government for the Council to help those who weren’t eligible for the government’s covid-related schemes, including the Small Business or Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Funds.

A local scheme was formed to distribute the £532,000 discretionary funding from the government. Priority given to specific sectors including properties occupied by a charity, regular market traders and businesses considered to be important to the local economy.

As well as distributing funding to businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, Blaby District Council has been supporting local businesses in Blaby Town Centre and set up a new Business Hub. The Business Hub will see a specialist team at the Council work with local firms, providing resources, assistance and information on a range of issues.

Councillor Maggie Wright, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder of Finance and Assets, said: “I am extremely proud of our team, who have worked incredibly hard to process the applications we have received from during this traumatic period for businesses. Their huge effort has seen nearly £11 million in grants awarded to more than 950 businesses.”

“The funding we have provided is vital for not only each individual businesses’ survival during this pandemic, but also the economic prosperity of the district, which we are committed to supporting through our new Business Hub.”

Business can access the business hub by visiting the Business Hub page