Over £6,000 given to struggling community groups in North West Leicestershire

Applications are still open for the Community Grants Scheme.

Measham Mobility Bus and Heart of the Forest Heritage are among those that have used North West Leicestershire District Council’s (NWLDC) Community and Sport Club Coronavirus Support Grant scheme to get back up and running after lockdown.

Heart of the Forest Heritage has received £500 in funding from the scheme which will go towards a new gazebo to allow organisers to host events in all weather conditions.

The group is run by volunteers who share an interest in telling the unique story of the National Forest landscape and have been unable to meet with members since March last year.

Measham Mobility Bus also used the scheme to help get the bus safely back on the road to provide transport for community groups in need with £1,000 towards an MOT, servicing costs and insurance.

The non-profit organisation has been off the road for 14 months and lost £2,000 during the pandemic having paid the bus’ annual bills just before it was announced that the group would have to take a break.

Richard Oakes, Chairman at Measham Mobility Bus, said: “We’ve been off the road for 14 months and slowly but surely we’re getting back to helping community groups from up and down North West Leicestershire get from A to B.

“It’s disheartening for groups like ours when we take a financial hit because we rely on group trips to keep us going so, we’re really grateful for the funding from the district council.”