Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day across the Borough of Melton

Melton Borough Council is launching a VE Day 80th Anniversary small grant fund.  

To celebrate this momentous anniversary, local community groups and organisations are encouraged to get involved by planning events, street parties and moments of shared celebration across the Borough of Melton on or around Thursday 8 May 2025. 

A funding pot of £7,000 is available to support a range of community VE Day celebration projects. Eligible community groups, charities and parish councils organising events and projects can apply for funding between £70 and £700 to help make their local celebrations a success.   

The scheme is now open for applications and will close at 11:59pm on 7 March 2025. 

Cllr Pat Cumbers who is Portfolio Holder for Communities, Health and Wellbeing stated that "We are really pleased to announce the launch of this VE Day Small Grant Scheme, providing an opportunity for our local communities to come together in celebration of this historic milestone. We saw incredible examples of togetherness and celebration funded through our Jubilee small grants scheme and hope we can again support local celebrations for this historic event as peace was established in Europe after so long. We invite groups to apply for this special funding to contribute towards celebrations within their own communities across our Borough. 

We eagerly anticipate the innovative and inspiring proposals that will emerge from this scheme. Let's make this anniversary a memorable occasion for all, uniting past victories with future possibilities. 

We have also been delighted to make a grant award, as part of our general Community Grants Scheme, to the Melton Mowbray 1940’s weekend which will have a focus on VE day too. We are pleased that by running this small grants scheme we will be able to support communities across the wider borough too" 

Events that will be selling food and drink, having live music on a stage or on council land or a green space need to apply for a temporary event notice from Melton Borough Council. Details of how to apply for any road closures/restrictions, can be found on the Leicestershire County Council website.  

More information about VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebrations can be found at VE Day 80. Information on grant funding, including eligibility criteria and allocations of payments, can be found on the Melton Borough Council website: Community grants – Melton Borough Council 

Details of all the celebrations will be published on www.discovermelton.com as they are confirmed. To add a local celebration event to the Discover Melton website email discover@melton.gov.uk with the details. 

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For more information please contact: communications@melton.gov.uk 

Additional Information: 

The grant scheme has been made possible from funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business and people and skills.   

For more information visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus