The second round for applications is open now and closes at midnight on Sunday 16 May 2021.

Fund Value: 

£150,000 in total.

Overall aim

To support Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and faith-based groups and organisations in the city of Leicester as we look towards recovery and to help them work through the impacts of Covid-19, reopening to provide essential services and activities to local communities in a Covid-secure manner.

Fund and application requirements

As with round one, the maximum award for any application is £5,000.

We are looking for applications from organisations that need support for activities that make their services operationally safer, or enable Covid-safe support and enrichment to be provided to vulnerable individuals, communities and neighbourhoods at particular risk, or who have been adversely affected by the pandemic.

We’re interested in prioritising applications from organisations which did not receive support in the previous round. However, we will consider applications from organisations looking to build on work that has already been funded (wholly or in part by Leicester City Council) and which, with further assistance from this second round of funding, could expand the reach and impact of this work.

As before, the fund is open to established groups and organisations delivering frontline services. This fund is not open to applications from those groups and organisations offering solely information, advice and guidance, or signposting services.
Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate how their proposal will deliver more immediate recovery support and assistance, with delivery expected to have concluded no later than three months from notification of a successful application and funds transfer.

Applicants will be required to explain what they will deliver, how it will take place, who will benefit, who will deliver, what Covid-19 impacts it will help tackle, how many people are likely to be assisted by the activity etc.

It is also expected that those successful applicants will be able to provide some sort of light-touch impact report of the work that they delivered as a result of the funding and how the funding and any associated activities have made a difference. Organisations are not eligible if they have had similar activities funded by other sources – or if such an application is pending.

Likewise, applications that relate to or are covered by support available through other mechanisms or assistance already provided by Leicester City Council will not be considered. Look here for support the types of support and assistance available – https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus/.

Application assessment arrangements

Applications will be assessed and awarded by a panel made up of officers from Leicester City Council and those working for or nominated by Voluntary Action Leicestershire.

Activities the fund will support

As a guide, the second round of the Leicester Covid-safe Communities Fund will look to support the following type of activities. The more issues or activities that an application addresses the better:

  • Activities or initiatives that reduce household and community transmission.
  • Activities or initiatives that extend delivery and impact in a sustainable manner.
  • Activities or initiatives that will reach many more people in the community, typically underserved groups/communities, and/or those communities or groups most at risk from, or impacted most significantly by Covid 19.
  • Activities and initiatives that address loneliness and isolation and/or aim to assist personal, physical and mental wellbeing and recovery.
  • Community connection-type activities and other activities with community-based social benefits.

How to apply

Please download and complete the application form and eligibility checklist below and return no later than midnight on Sunday 16 May 2021.

Email completed application forms to helpline@valonline.org.uk


We will be holding two free online Information Session to explore the LCC Covid-Safe Communities grant and the support available from Voluntary Action Leicestershire.
Book your place onto one of the dates show below: