Grants and funding for communities

Harborough District Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019. 

Harborough District Council has adopted the Climate Emergency Action Plan 2022 - 2030. To support this plan, the council have developed a grant scheme that will invest up to £450,000 in local, environmental projects (over four financial years between April 2023 and March 2027).

The Environmental Grant Scheme will encourage communities across the Harborough District to engage in capital projects that will have a positive and provable impact on the environment. The grant scheme is open to any constituted  'not for profit' village/community groups, community enterprises, registered charities, and town/parish councils. Applicants can apply for grants ranging from £5,000 - £20,000.

Before making an application, please ensure you have read the applicant guidance in full - this can be downloaded here. If you have any questions, please email business@harborough.gov.uk. 

What projects can be supported through the scheme?
Successful applicants must demonstrate a clear public benefit and a positive, proven impact on the environment, aligning with one or more of the following outcomes:

• Reduce the carbon footprint of the community.
• Reduce the waste produced in the community.
• Create, or protect and enhance, biodiversity or environmental assets such as green spaces and waterways.
• Educate and/or raise awareness of climate change that will result in one of the above outcomes.

The following are examples of activities which may be eligible for funding:

• Community energy schemes e.g. solar farms.
• Community repair or swap scheme.
• Community farm or garden.
• Community transport scheme e.g. bike shares, car clubs.
• Increasing the energy efficiency of community buildings.
• Creative projects to raise the awareness of climate change.

Eligibility Criteria

For the full eligibility criteria, please read the applicant guidance.

• The applicant must be a constituted ‘not for profit’ organisation. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • village or community groups.
  • community enterprises.
  • registered charities.
  • town or parish councils. 
• Organisations that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made, are not eligible for funding under this scheme. 
• The application must be for a capital project. This means you must spend grants on lasting assets such as a building or equipment.
• The application must be for a grant of between £5,000 and £20,000.
• The project must be based in, and support, a village or major settlement in the Harborough District.
• The project must have a clear public benefit, and a positive and proven impact on the environment, meeting one or more of the primary outcomes outlined above.
• The project must have a minimum of 10% cash match funding and that funding must be from a source other than Harborough District Council.
• The project must have a letter of support from someone, in a position of authority, who is going to champion the project (for example a letter from the parish council or a local councillor).
• Where relevant, the project must have any permissions or licences needed before a grant can be approved. 
• The application must be backed by a plan that demonstrates the viability and sustainability of the project. Please refer to Guidance for Applicants for further information.
• This funding may only be used for new projects. Projects must not start before the grant is approved.

How to apply

Applications must be made via the www.grantapproval.co.uk website. If you have not used this system before, you will need to register for an account. Once you are registered and logged onto the system, select ‘Harborough’ as your local authority and click ‘find schemes’. The title of the fund in the online system is ‘HDC – Environmental Grant Scheme’. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they provide the correct and accurate information the first time.

If you have any problems using the online system or need support, please email business@harborough.gov.uk