Nearly £100,000 awarded in latest round of Charnwood Community Grants – Latest News – News Updates

Published: Mon 20th July, 2026

Community projects across Charnwood will be supported with nearly £100,000 worth of funding.

The borough council is backing 17 projects with grants including plans to create a play area in a community venue, helping a youth club with running costs and helping a charity upgrade their premises.

Each year the council awards tens of thousands of pounds to support local groups and projects.

Cllr Liz Blackshaw, Lead Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “It is wonderful to be able to support local groups and projects that provide vital services. 

“Awarding almost £100,000 in funding is a significant investment, but the value these organisations return is immeasurable. They support hundreds of people through a wide range of essential services, activities, and community spaces.”

The Council’s cabinet approved two types of grants at a meeting on 2 July, Charnwood Facilities Grant which aims to help premises used by groups and organisations, and Charnwood Community Grants, which are used to support a variety of programmes.

The total amount awarded by Cabinet is £98,482.

Among those to benefit are Woodhouse Community Hall Trust which will receive £20,000 to create a play area and picnics area for local preschool and primary school children and the wider community.

Loughborough Community Food and Wellbeing Hub has been awarded £5,000 towards funding in nutrition, mental health and financial insecurity programmes, supporting those struggling with the cost of living.

Leicester Musical Memory Box will receive £3,500 to develop dementia therapeutic groups in Charnwood and Passion Youth Club in Shepshed will get some help with running costs and rent thanks to a £5,000 grant. 

Other recipients of Charnwood Community Facility Grants and Charnwood Community Grants are listed below.

Charnwood Community Facility Grants

• £19,490 to Thurmaston Community Centre for improved plumbing, toilet facilities and energy efficient radiators.
• £13,217 to SOFA project (Loughborough) to reconfigure their new premises internally to create space for team canteen, PAT testing room and upgrading electrics and plumbing.

Charnwood Community Grants

• £5,000 to Melton and District Money Advice Centre towards general running costs for meeting increase in demand for debt advice.
• £5,000 to Real Purpose towards core costs to continue to deliver the Loughborough East employment project.
• £3,500 to Loughborough Pride towards the running costs of Pride ‘Picnic in The Park’ 2026 event. 
• £3,275 to Open Heaven Church towards the Loughborough Community Grocery and wrap around services including money management.
• £3,000 to Charnwood Toy Library toward the core delivery running costs including rent and sessional Toy Librarian.
• £3,000 to Cancer Active Recovery Support towards the running costs of their Loughborough Hub and support workshops.
• £2,500 to Age Concern Syston towards running costs for delivery of support, advice and activities in Syston and surrounding villages.
• £2,000 to Age UK Charnwood Men & Women in Sheds towards running costs for their welcoming ‘shed’ centre and activities
• £2,000 to Without Walls towards the running of their Singing Cafes.
• £1,500 to The Exaireo Trust towards improvements to their therapeutic allotment.
• £1,500 to Holt Green Gardeners towards equipment for their community garden project.

To find out more details about Charnwood Community Grants and how to apply, visit the Charnwood Community Grants. 

If you’d like to be notified of when the grant rounds are open for applications, please contact: VCSupport@charnwood.gov.uk 

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