Branches & agencies
Hinckley & Rugby has a long history of supporting its local communities. In 2024, we supported six major local charities through our Community Foundation and 12 smaller local good causes through our Community Sponsorship Scheme.
This year, we aim to support even more local charities, community groups and clubs. Whether you’re involved in your local food bank, choir, gardening club, litter picking team, fête or children’s sports club, we may be able to help, and we invite you to tell us what you need.
We can consider donations of up to £500 per organisation to help fund your club or charity’s next project or to purchase all-important new equipment. We may also be able to help you promote an upcoming event and provide advice, expertise or volunteers to help you succeed.
We aim to fund local good causes that share our values, especially in support of UN Sustainable Development goals to:
- end poverty in all its forms.
- ensure healthy lives and wellbeing.
- achieve gender equality.
- reduce inequality in all its forms.
- make communities inclusive, safe and sustainable.
- combat climate change.
Relaunching the scheme for 2025, Chief People Officer Nadia Baker said:
“Through our Community Sponsorship Scheme, the Society is keen to support those small charities and clubs that are the beating heart of our local towns and villages. These organisations build our communities and enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of the people who use them, making each a vital asset to its community and deserving of our backing.”
A beneficiary of the Society’s support in 2024 was Bright Hope, a charity based in Swannington, near Coalville. Charity Trustee Jan Shepherd provided some inspiring feedback:
“Thank you for the support Hinckley & Rugby is giving us with funding for our Befriending service, as well as Society support in the past. This service is being improved and relaunched to have a greater reach and to assist more vulnerable people in getting back to a lifestyle where they are able to meet people face to face again without fear.”
The other groups we supported with funding in 2024 were:
- AFC Barwell – team kit and equipment
- 1st Hinckley St Mary’s Girlguiding – camping equipment
- English Martyrs PTFA – children’s books that promote cultural diversity
- Battling Brook PTFA – development of an outdoor gym
- The Richard Moore Sports CIC – sports equipment for people with learning disabilities
- Rugby Dunsmore Rotary Club – Rugby’s Got Talent special event
- Dorothy Goodman School – financial education through WizeUp
- Cross Counties Radio – continued operation of the community radio station
- Broughton Alive – annual village carnival
- Stoney Stanton Food Bank – supporting local families in need
- Blaby Village Cricket Club – a new scoreboard
How to apply and what to expect
To be considered for sponsorship of up to £500, simply fill in our online application form. Please provide as much information as you can about your organisation and the purpose of the funding, so that we can consider the merits of your request.
Your application will be carefully considered by our committee, which aims to meet every two weeks, and we will confirm our decision as soon as we can. Please bear in mind that as much as we wish we could, we are not able to support every application. We try to ensure that we provide support to the broadest possible range of deserving local charities and groups, and we need to take this into consideration when making our decisions.
Please note that we can only consider applications from organisations that are based in Leicestershire or Warwickshire.
You can see more information, and the application form, visit our Community Sponsorship Scheme page.
