Thousands in funding available for Community Groups

 

 

Community groups and sports clubs across the District of Blaby are being encouraged to apply to the Council’s Community Grants scheme to help with their projects.

£90,000 is available during 2019/2020. Even more funding has been made available thanks to the money raised through the Love Blaby Lottery and a £2,000 contribution from Everyone Active.

A wide range of grants are available from £500 to £4,000 for both revenue costs, such as equipment hire and marketing, and capital projects, including building refurbishments. Most grants are awarded quarterly and the next deadline is looming, closing on Thursday 06 June.

Three more application rounds will take place, with deadlines in September, November and February 2020. Youth Grant applications for up to £500 can be made at any time.

The Council has awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds through the Community Grants scheme since the initiative launched over a decade ago.

Local mental health support group Blaby Mind Matters received a grant last year to help pay for room hire costs. Jen Fielding, Local Area Co-ordinator for Blaby, who helped set up the group, said: “Community Grants funding has made all the difference for this group being able to continue to support people with mental health needs.”

Ann Dixon, Chair of the Blaby and Glen Parva Community Service, said: “The Drop-In centre is a lifeline for many elderly people who live alone and can feel isolated. Community Grant funding to upgrade our kitchen has helped us to achieve a five-star food hygiene rating and benefit many of the groups using our centre.”

Community Grant applications can now be completed online. For more information, including terms and conditions, application deadlines and how to apply visit the Community Grants section of the website.

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Four fined for dog identification offences

 

Residents are being urged to ensure they comply with the law to ensure their dog can get back to them, following fines given to four residents by Leicester Magistrates’ Court.

The Control of Dogs Order (1992) makes it the law for a dog to wear a collar bearing the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag.

If stray dogs reported to the Council cannot be identified, they are picked up by the Dog Warden and taken to the kennel. The stray dogs service cost Blaby District Council over £20,000 in the last financial year.

Four residents were recently fined at Leicester Magistrates’ Court after their dogs were picked up as strays in the district because they did not have proper identification. Carys Archer of Glenfield and Lance Bellingham of Enderby pleaded guilty and we fined £440 each, with £140 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.

Two other residents also failed to comply with notices requesting updates to microchip information, which is an offence under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015. Joanne Seager of Elmesthorpe was fined £440, with £210 costs and a £44 victim surcharge, while Agne Baneviciute of Narborough was fined £660 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £66 victim surcharge. Neither entered a plea for either offence at Leicester Magistrates’ Court.

John Richardson, Strategic Director at Blaby District Council, said: “Dogs found straying but wearing collar and tags are usually returned home directly by the finder, using the mobile phone number or address written on it.

All of the unnecessary money we have to spend to have a dog collected and the money the owner then has to pay to claim their dog back can be avoided by a simple tag costing just a few pounds.”

 

 

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Vacancies for Parish Councillors.

Parish Councillor Vacancies.

 

Following the local elections, we now have vacancies on the Parish Council for two seats in the South Ward and three seats in the North Ward.

Being a Parish Councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community, and helping to make it a better place to live and work.

If this sounds of interest to you please contact the Clerk Lee Breckon, in the first instance on 0116 2751987 or email 

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