Where to get support
Getting support for your voluntary or community organisation or group
The Harborough District Council community engagement team may be able to provide some basic advice to your group about organisational structures and funding. You can also sign up to our newsletter for more information and case studies and advice on good practice across the district.
Further information and support can be provided by the organisations and bulletins below, split into local and national, first with some more general support and then support specifically around funding.
Local support
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire provides a range of organisational development, volunteering and funding support including training and events.
Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils – provides representation, training, networking and support to parish and town councils.
Halls Together – delivered by the Rural Community Council Leicestershire and Rutland, a free membership service providing advice, training and resources to support the management of village halls and other community buildings.
CASE support for co-operatives and social enterprise.
National support
The Charity Commission – regulates charities in England and Wales and provides a range of resources and guidance about how to set up and run a charity. You can also search for a charity and, for example, find annual reports for trusts and foundations that give grants to get more information about what they fund and how much.
NCVO – National Council for Voluntary Organisations – provides a range of resources, events, training and information with free membership for organisations with an annual turnover less than £30,000.
Locality – has a focus on local community organisations and community action providing peer learning, specialist advice, resources and campaigns.
NYA - National Youth Agency – supports the youth work sector through providing guidance, resources and training.
Directory of Social Change – provide training courses, funding databases, conferences and other resources.
Charities Aid Foundation – works with funders to help them to give more effectively and provides resources for charities and social enterprises to strengthen their resilience.
Funding resources
The following organisations also provide free funding resources that may be useful to groups:
- Leicestershire County Council – support, information and resources related to grants and funding for Leicestershire organisations, with sign up for a monthly bulletin.
- Rural Services Network – a monthly bulletin highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities relevant to rural communities.
- Active Together – a funding finder that helps clubs, groups, organisation and individuals search for funding for physical activity and sport.
- East Midlands Funding Forum – sign up for a monthly bulletin of funding opportunities and other news.
- 360Giving GrantNav – provides a searchable database of funders so that if a funder contributes to it, it lists the grants they’ve provided in different areas of work and geographies.
- Charity Excellence Framework – a national resource for charities to search for funding as well as other organisational development resources.
Local funders
Leicestershire Community Foundation has a range of programmes open at different times, including Market Harborough Building Society Community Fund and a general Making Local Life Better Fund.
Market Harborough and the Bowdens provides funding in the areas of community organisations, health, education, the arts, heritage and in helping individuals for people and groups in Market Harborough, Little Bowden and Great Bowden.
Leicester and Leicestershire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Community Action Fund
If you know of other local funders, or you are a local funder who would like to publicise your funding, please get in touch. HDC community engagement team is also keen to work collaboratively with other funders to make the most of our resources.