Projects to boost ‘place and wellbeing’ share nearly £25k

Harborough District Council agreed, on 26 January 2022, to allocate the funding from its Community Fund which, this year, was looking for projects which will improve spaces and places, as well as support young people aged 11+ with diversionary activities or around anxiety, self-image, or childhood inactivity.

Those projects which have successfully applied for funding are:

• Great Easton Village Hall – £1,814 for 100 fruit trees for villagers’ gardens, to deliver a Platinum Jubilee Environment Fair, to plant wildflowers on verges, create a Celebration Walk On The Wildside nature walk, and environmental workshops
• The Well, Kibworth – £1,645 for office furniture, as well as security and IT equipment
• Claybrooke Parva Parish Council – £1,248 to improve an area of the village green by levelling the ground, clearing and re-seeding it, filling in and grassing the potholes and providing hard-standing for a VE Day bench
• The Coplow Centre, Billesdon – £2,500 for excavation and preparation of groundwork for an artificial grass wheelchair-accessible playing surface with all-weather table tennis table
• 1st Fleckney Scouts – £2,220 for an outside camping project to allow the whole scout group (with over 70 members) to camp out at the same time
• Market Harborough Tennis Club – £1,200 for an inclusive funding programme, offering two sessions per week to adults and pupils with learning difficulties
• Houghton Field Association – £2,500 for playing field facilities to the playing and a small outdoor gym
• Broughton Astley Parish Council – £2,500 to improve and provide access to a wildlife garden/area at the Western Willows Allotment site
• Glooston Village Hall – £2,306 for a village hall update project, with paved area at the back, shed and better lighting
• Arnesby Primary School – £2,500 for a Trim Trail project which includes balance beams, bridges and swinging steps
• Spirit at Play – £1,800 to help recruit volunteers to assist at the rescue horse project which supports children and adults with physical and emotional wellbeing
• Burton Overy Parish Council – £1,125 for verge-side planters, made of timber sleepers, close to village entrance signs
• Learning South Leicestershire School Sports Partnership – £600 to fund a yoga project to help students with mental wellbeing at Lutterworth High School and Robert Smyth Academy

Applications from Learning South Leicestershire School Sports Partnership for a golf project, and Market Harborough Rugby Union FC for improvements to the studio and physio rooms, were deferred for decision until 17 February 2022.

Councillor Simon Whelband (pictured), Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead for wellbeing and communities, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to support so many exciting projects across the Harborough district which are focused on improving much-loved local spaces, or helping people with mental wellbeing which is so crucial at this time.”

To find out more about the next round of available grants visit the Council’s website at www.harborough.gov.uk/grants