More than £100,000 allocated to improve local communities 

Blaby District Council has approved the creation of a £108,000 grant scheme for Councillors to invest directly in improving lives across the District. 

The Councillor Ward Improvement Scheme, which will run as a pilot in 2026, has been created to give all 36 District Councillors up to £3,000 to support their local communities. 

The fund was approved by the Council’s Cabinet in May and launched on 1 July 2026. The scheme will run until March 2027, when its impact will be reviewed. 

Councillors will be able to invest in as many projects that meet funding guidelines as their funding pot allows. The minimum spend will initially be £100 per initiative, with a maximum allowance of £3,000 across the year for each ward Councillor. 

Funding can be pooled between Councillors to offer bigger amounts covering wider areas, but a Councillor will only be able to recommend projects that benefit their residents. 

Examples of how the money may be spent include: 

• Improvement to community facilities such as changing rooms 
• Community events that benefit a range of residents 
• Facilities to support part of the community, such as services for the disabled 
• Benches 
• Floral displays 

Councillors will apply for and administer the funding themselves, but the process will be reviewed by Council officers to ensure fairness and transparency. Details of how and where the funding is spent will be published on the Council’s website.  

For more information on the grant visit: Councillor Ward Improvement Scheme 

Councillor Ben Taylor, Leader of Blaby District Council, said: "I am delighted to be able to introduce this scheme to allow Councillors to make small changes in their wards that will make a big difference. 

"We are responsible for supporting our communities to grow, develop and thrive. This funding means Councillors can focus small amounts of funding where they feel it will make the biggest impact in their areas. I look forward to seeing how my fellow Councillors use the funding."

Councillor Ben Taylor
Leader of the Council