A new grant scheme has opened for non-profit voluntary organisations, community groups, and sports clubs in North West Leicestershire who need a financial boost after a challenging year.

North West Leicestershire District Council's Community and Sports Club Coronavirus Support Grant will provide financial help to allow organisations to re-open or continue to run in a Covid-safe way once restrictions allow.

Grants of up to £500 are available and will be prioritised for organisations meeting the following criteria:

• Are in financial difficulty and have low cash reserves

• Are sustainable in the medium to long-term

• Work with people with physical and mental disabilities, older people, children and young people or those with long term health conditions

• Provide support to residents looking to re-engage with services, activities, and everyday life following lockdown

• Have not received Covid-19 resilience funding elsewhere.

The scheme will close on Sunday, April 4, but applicants are being encouraged to apply as early as possible as funding is limited. Applicants can expect to hear within one month of their application if they have been successful.

More information on the grant scheme and how to apply can be found HERE.

Councillor Andrew Woodman, Portfolio Holder for Community Services at the district council, said: "The Government's roadmap will have our not-for-profit organisations, community groups and sports clubs thinking about how they re-open safely or offer new services to our communities as we emerge from the pandemic.

"This can be costly and we want to offer a financial boost that will support this effort and ensure these groups and clubs which are so important to our communities, can get back up and running successfully."