1. Capital grants for: Rural post offices Village retailers Community spaces

2. Which areas are covered? Leicestershire villages which have a population of less than 7,000 residents. Priority will be given to smaller settlements with limited services where the business is the sole operator within the locality.

3. Ineligible settlements Loughborough Lutterworth Market Harborough Melton Mowbray Mountsorrel Oadby and Wigston Narborough Shepshed Sileby Syston Thurmaston Ashby de la Zouch Barwell Birstall Braunstone Broughton Astley Burbage Coalville Earl Shilton Glenfield Groby Hinckley

4. Support for shops and post offices The Vibrant Villages grants programme provides financial support to local rural post offices and retailers to help improve their sustainability.

5. Who can apply? Post offices Village shops Newsagents Petrol outlets with a retail element Butchers, greengrocers and fishmongers

6. Who can apply? Bakeries Farm shops Mobile facilities Village pubs providing services for the community

7. What grants are available? Grants between £750 and £5,000 are available to local shops and post offices in rural villages. Applicants must contribute a minimum of 50% of total eligible project costs.

8. What can the grants be used for? Projects that could be supported include: Improvements to sales area Introduction of new services Development of local delivery services Introducing locally produced high quality foods

9. What can the grants be used for? Projects that could be supported include: Upgrade of equipment to improve efficiency Internal modernisation External appearance Security Improving access to premises

10. Examples of projects Refrigerated van for deliveries to local residents New refrigeration equipment to improve efficiency Replacement flooring to make shop more accessible Electronic Point of Sales system to improve stock control CCTV equipment to improve security

11. Support for Community Spaces Grants of up to £10,000 are available for community spaces such as village or community halls, or rooms in places of worship and public houses, to provide new facilities for use by local businesses and residents. Applicants must contribute a minimum of 50% of total eligible project costs. This can be met by other grants

12. What grants are available? Grants between £750 and £10,000 are available to existing community spaces Applicants must contribute a minimum of 50% of total eligible project costs. This can be met by other grants

13. Who can apply? Village halls Community halls Public houses Schools Rooms within places of worship

14. What sort of projects can be supported? Adaptations which enable additional services Projects which support the provision of local economic activity including: the delivery of training and learning opportunities childcare improved ICT provision business and social enterprise meeting space improved access to advice services Projects which enable improved sustainability through enterprise and income generation

15. Examples of projects An ICT suite for a new heritage centre A meeting room in a memorial hall Secure storage in a church to allow the space to be used by groups Kitchen facilities in a village hall to allow wedding receptions to be held

16. Contact Fiona Walker Rural Services Officer 0116 305 5673 ruralgrants@leics.gov.uk Better Places Team Chief Executive’s Department County Hall Glenfield LE3 8RA