Community projects across Charnwood will be supported with nearly £100,000 worth of funding. The borough council is backing 17 projects with grants including plans to create a play area in a community venue, helping a youth club with running costs and helping a charity upgrade their premises. Each year the council awards tens of thousands of pounds to support local groups and projects. Cllr Liz Blackshaw, Lead Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “It is wonderful to be able to support local groups and projects that provide vital services. “Awarding almost £100,000 in funding is a significant investment, but the value these organisations return is immeasurable. They support hundreds of people through a wide range of essential services, activities, and community spaces.” The Council’s cabinet approved two types of grants at a meeting on 2 July, Charnwood Facilities Grant which aims to help premises used by groups and organisations, and Charnwood Community Grants, which are used to support a variety of programmes. The total amount awarded by Cabinet is £98,482. Among those to benefit are Woodhouse Community Hall Trust which will receive £20,000 to create a play area and picnics area for local preschool and primary school children and the wider community. Loughborough Community Food and Wellbeing Hub has been awarded £5,000 towards funding in nutrition, mental health and financial insecurity programmes, supporting those struggling with the cost of living. Leicester Musical Memory Box will receive £3,500 to develop dementia therapeutic groups in Charnwood and Passion Youth Club in Shepshed will get some help with running costs and rent thanks to a £5,000 grant. Other recipients of Charnwood Community Facility Grants and Charnwood Community Grants are listed below. Charnwood Community Facility Grants £19,490 to Thurmaston Community Centre for improved plumbing, toilet facilities and energy efficient radiators. £13,217 to SOFA project (Loughborough) to reconfigure their new premises internally to create space for team canteen, PAT testing room and upgrading electrics and plumbing. Charnwood Community Grants £5,000 to Melton and District Money Advice Centre towards general running costs for meeting increase in demand for debt advice. £5,000 to Real Purpose towards core costs to continue to deliver the Loughborough East employment project. £3,500 to Loughborough Pride towards the running costs of Pride ‘Picnic in The Park’ 2026 event. £3,275 to Open Heaven Church towards the Loughborough Community Grocery and wrap around services including money management. £3,000 to Charnwood Toy Library toward the core delivery running costs including rent and sessional Toy Librarian. £3,000 to Cancer Active Recovery Support towards the running costs of their Loughborough Hub and support workshops. £2,500 to Age Concern Syston towards running costs for delivery of support, advice and activities in Syston and surrounding villages. £2,000 to Age UK Charnwood Men & Women in Sheds towards running costs for their welcoming ‘shed’ centre and activities £2,000 to Without Walls towards the running of their Singing Cafes. £1,500 to The Exaireo Trust towards improvements to their therapeutic allotment. £1,500 to Holt Green Gardeners towards equipment for their community garden project. To find out more details about Charnwood Community Grants and how to apply, visit the Charnwood Community Grants. If you’d like to be notified of when the grant rounds are open for applications, please contact: VCSupport@charnwood.gov.uk Charnwood Borough Council News - Published: Mon 20th July, 2026

More than 2.1 million unpaid carers in the UK are now aged 65 and over, according to Age UK's latest analysis – and for one Leicester woman in her 70s, caring for her 104-year-old mum is a reality she never expected. Linda recently celebrated her mum Dorothy's remarkable 104th birthday – a milestone few families ever experience. Behind the celebrations is the everyday reality of supporting one of Britain's oldest generations while managing later life herself. Linda says support from Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland has become "a lifeline", helping both her and Dorothy continue to enjoy life. Each week, Dorothy meets her companion Sam at Wistow Garden Centre through the charity's service. The pair enjoy tea and scones in the café while spending the morning chatting and laughing together. While Dorothy enjoys time with a trusted friend, Linda gains something just as valuable – the reassurance that her mum is happy, safe and well looked after, along with precious time to focus on her own wellbeing. The friendship began after Linda contacted Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland to help her mum apply for a Blue Badge. During the conversation, she learned about the charity's companionship service, which carefully matches older people with companions based on shared interests and personalities. What began as practical support has grown into a genuine friendship. "Sam isn't just someone who visits Mum," said Linda. "She's become a real friend. "Mum absolutely lights up when she knows Sam is coming. They laugh together, chat and enjoy their trips out. It's given Mum something to look forward to every week." The weekly outings with Sam have helped restore that routine, giving Dorothy regular conversation, time in the community and the chance to keep doing the things she loves. Sam says watching Dorothy continue to embrace life at 104 is a privilege. "Spending time with Dorothy is a real joy. We have lots of laughs together and it's lovely to see how much she enjoys our time together. I always leave looking forward to our next visit." For Linda, the support has been "invaluable." "Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland has honestly been a lifesaver. "Knowing Mum is spending time with someone she completely trusts gives me real peace of mind. It means I can go shopping, go on holiday or even visit my daughter in Canada, knowing she's safe, happy and enjoying herself rather than sitting at home on her own." Dorothy also receives support through the charity's Deep Clean Service, which helps keep her home clean, comfortable and safe. Linda added: "Without that help I'd be trying to look after two houses. It takes away so much stress and means I can focus on spending quality time with Mum, rather than worrying about everything else." Age UK national figures show the strain many older carers face, with 69% saying caring affects their physical health, while 63% say it affects their mental health. Dorothy and Linda's story reflects a growing reality across the UK. With the Office for National Statistics estimating 625,000 people aged 90 or over in the UK in 2024—a 53.7% increase since 2004, more families are finding themselves caring for very elderly parents later in life. Linda hopes sharing her family's story will encourage other older carers to ask for support. "More and more older people are finding themselves caring for very elderly parents, often while managing their own health, work or family commitments. No one should feel they have to do it all alone. With the right support in place, older people can continue enjoying life, and carers can have the reassurance and time they need to look after themselves too," said Tony Donovan, Chair of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland.

Even more electric buses are coming to Leicester! If you travel by bus in Leicester, you'll soon be able to enjoy even cleaner, quieter and more sustainable journeys. Leicester City Council is set to purchase a further 10 fully electric buses through leading zero-emission bus supplier Pelican Engineering Group, using around £4 million of Government funding, as the city continues its transformation towards one of the UK's largest fully electric urban bus networks. The new electric buses are being added to the Leicester Buses network, operating on Centrebus routes 20, 24, 81, 83 and 162. They'll provide smoother journeys, improved accessibility and help create cleaner air for everyone. This is another exciting step in the Leicester Buses One Network partnership, which is making bus travel simpler, greener and better value across the city through five customer promises: Electric Frequent Reliable Easy Great Value By the end of 2026, around 200 electric buses will be operating across Leicester, with even more arriving in 2027 as the city moves towards an almost entirely electric bus network. Whether you're travelling to work, school, the shops or meeting friends, we're making it easier than ever to choose the bus. Leicester Buses Partnership News CLICK TO DOWNLOAD ON APPLE STORE - GOOGLE PLAY APP IS COMING SOON

Make a difference. Build new skills. Give back to your community. Becoming a gives you the opportunity to work side‑by‑side with regular police officers, bring the skills and experience from your day job, and make a real difference in your local community. Leicestershire Police Specials are volunteer Police Officers with the same powers as regular officers. You’ll typically commit around four hours a week (or more), supporting frontline policing across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and playing a pivotal role in keeping people safe. No two shifts are ever the same. As a Special Constable, the role is about far more than flashing blue lights and handcuffs. You’ll support victims, provide reassurance, build trust within communities, and respond to situations that call for calm thinking and sound judgement. If you’re looking for a challenging, rewarding and truly unique volunteering experience, this could be for you. Our comprehensive training programme and ongoing mentoring will give you valuable life skills, boost your confidence, and help you develop professionally and personally. What you’ll do As a Special Constable, you’ll be involved in a wide range of operational policing activities, including: Carrying out high‑visibility foot patrols to deter and detect criminal activity Engaging with businesses and communities to prevent crime and reduce fear Working with schools to promote community safety and positive choices Tackling anti‑social behaviour, including intimidating behaviour and gangs Managing alcohol‑related incidents such as public disorder or violence Enforcing road safety legislation in local communities Conducting house‑to‑house enquiries to support investigations Supporting police operations to disrupt and arrest offenders The must haves Aged 17½ at application and 18 on appointment. A UK citizen, EU citizen with settled status, Commonwealth citizen, or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the UK. In good health and of good character. What’s in it for you? At Leicestershire Police, we put people first. You’ll be fully supported so you can perform at your best, while gaining experience that can benefit your career and personal development. Benefits include: Professional police training and mentoring Transferable skills and real‑world experience Access to Blue Light Card discounts A sense of pride from giving back to your community Next steps If you’re ready to belong to something bigger and make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you. Click Apply to start your journey. Vacancy closes: Sunday, 2 August at 23:55. Assessment Centres: Expected to take place on Tuesday 4 August (PM), Saturday 5 September (AM) and Tuesday 27 October (PM). Start date: 3 March 2027 Please click the link below to register for one of our informative webinars where you can learn more about the role. Special Constable Webinar Training commitment: Training lasts five months, covering weekends and two to three evenings per week, and takes place at Force Headquarters, Enderby. Full timetables and course details will be provided. If you’re unable to commit to these dates, please set up job alerts for future campaigns. Who we are The area we are responsible for covers over 2,500 square kilometres (over 965 square miles) and has a population of over one million. There is a rich diversity of communities all with their own policing needs. From widely diverse backgrounds with very different personalities and aspirations, everyone who joins us plays a positive part in community policing - whether you're out there in a highly visible role or behind the scenes. To find out more about Leicestershire Police and understand how you can make a difference visit our careers website. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and encourage anyone who has considered a career in policing to apply. We’re particularly keen to increase the number of females and candidates from black and minority ethnic communities and the LGBT community, so that we can truly reflect the communities that we serve in. Apply Now Special Constable - (LP256, C1) Location: Leicestershire Reference number: 9698 Salary: N/A Vacancy closes: Sunday, 2 August at 23:55. Special Constables Recruitment Process :: Leicestershire Police Careers

St Wolstan's House was built in 1856 as a farmhouse and replaced a previous house. In 1839 the farm had 145 acres, with the fields laid out in a straight line behind the house stretching towards Oadby and in 1945 it had just under 100 acres. The farmyard buildings, which were behind the house where the flats in Boulter Crescent now stand, were still in existence in the 1970s. The only building left is the original laundry that is built on a vaulted brick cellar which collects rainwater from the laundry roof and the two roofs on the north side of the house. Kevin & Stephen purchased the property in January in 2003 and have been restoring the house and establishing and the garden ever since. The garden, designed by us, is still a work in progress. It had been neglected for many years, with ivy and weeds growing everywhere and overgrown leyandii hedges obscuring the laundry building, top garden and side wall. Apart from the Californian redwoods (Sequoiadendron giganteum or Wellingtonia), cedar, yew, bay and cotoneaster, which are all here, we have planted and created everything else. Stephen is the head gardener and does all planting and Kevin is the assistant gardener and does weeding, dead heading and tidying up. The garden changed significantly in 2026 with the removal of all the box hedging due to the devastation caused by the box caterpillar. The Edwardian conservatory was built in 1914 by the Loughborough firm Messenger & Co., founded in 1858, which was famous for garden buildings including conservatories, greenhouses and summer houses in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The conservatory cost £212 7s 6d, including the door to the drawing room with the two stone steps, the Makin tiled floor and the window mechanisms. It is one of the few surviving Messenger & Co. buildings in Leicestershire along with the orangery at Kilworth House. The conservatory was restored in 2010 and painted by our good friend Kev Croft and his son Kirk. Due to damage caused by the leaking new guttering, it was repaired, refurbished and repainted by Kirk and his brother Jake in 2026, with new tiles added to the sides of the original floor, new tiled windowsills and a remodelled pond. Kirk has also done most of the hard landscaping and, in addition to helping with their design, Kirk made all the handrails and the Italian garden railings. Mr Stephen Walker & Mr Kevin De-Voy We hope that you enjoy your visit to our garden and thank you for coming and supporting the National Garden Scheme (NGS) charity. Homemade teas are available from the kitchen window in the well garden. All proceeds go to charity: 10% to the NGS and 90% to our chosen charity which is Bright Hope. Video by Russell Thorpe LM NEWS Open Gardens at St. Wolstan's House Approx ½ acre garden divided into garden rooms with formal and informal planting featuring specimen Sequoia sempervirens and Cedrus libani. Inc formal white garden, rose garden, sunken Italian garden with Triton fountain, lawned area surrounded by mixed border and paths with rose and wisteria pergola and laburnum arch, Edwardian conservatory, terracotta garden and well garden with raised beds. Sunday 19 July 2026 11am to 5pm Just turn up and pay on the day. Refreshments Home-made teas. Admission Adult: £5.00 Child: £0.00 Link for The National Garden Scheme St Wolstan’s House - Wigston Magna | NGS Gardens Location details St Wolstan's House, Church Nook, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, LE18 3RA what3words ///makes.haven.aims Directions to St Wolstan's House On the corner of Church Nook & Bull Head Street, opposite St Wistan's Church. No parking at garden. Public car parks, all within 5 min walk on Frederick Street, Junction Road & Paddock Street. Mr Kevin De-Voy & Mr Stephen Walker kevindevoy01@gmail.com 01162 882984 In aid of BRIGHT HOPE CHARITY They support adults in North West Leicestershire with mental health, loneliness, and life challenges through free counselling, social groups, and community support. Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. 1169561 Pictures and Video by Russell Thorpe for Leicester Media Online

Three outstanding open spaces in Charnwood have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag award which recognise the international standard of excellence for parks and green spaces. Loughborough’s Rectory Wildlife Garden, the Forest Road Greenbelt and Queen’s Park have all achieved the honour. Cllr Jewel Miah, Leader of the Charnwood Borough Council and John Dimmick, Secretary of the Rectory Wildlife Garden with volunteers and representatives from idverde. It is the first time the Rectory Wildlife Garden has been awarded a Community Green Flag, the Forest Road Greenbelt picks up the Community Green Flag award for the 11th year in a row, while the popular Queen’s Park is receiving it for the 18th consecutive year. Cllr Anne Gray, the Council’s Lead Member for Open Spaces, said: “These Green Flag awards are an excellent achievement for the area and for everyone who works hard each year at all three open spaces to maintain them to the highest standard. “We are proud of our parks and open spaces across the borough and these awards are fully deserved. “I’d like to thank our open spaces partner, idverde, waste partner Serco, and all the volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure residents and visitors can enjoy them.” Cllr Jewel Miah, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council added: “This is a fantastic achievement, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work.” John Dimmick, Secretary of the Rectory Wildlife Garden, said: “This is such a fantastic achievement for everyone that is involved with the garden. I know how hard the council, partners and volunteers work to maintain them. I know they will all be so pleased with this kind of recognition.” Pat Cook, Chair of the Forest Road Greenbelt Gardeners said: “The three spaces that have been awarded Green Flags are fully deserved. Hours of hard work and dedication really has paid off. “Thank you to the Council, our partners idverde and volunteers for all their support throughout the year that have helped achieved this.” The Council owns and looks after Queen’s Park with its partner idverde, along with the help of volunteer group Friends of Queen’s Park. The Loughborough Rectory Wildlife Garden in Rectory Road is a community space maintained by volunteers from the Rectory Wildlife Garden Charity. For more information about the garden, visit www.rectorywildlifegarden.com The Forest Road Greenbelt is maintained by the Forest Road Greenbelt Gardeners supported by the Council and idverde. This year marks 30 years of Green Flag award which is managed by Keep Britain Tidy. Other parks and open spaces in Charnwood to receive a Green Flag for 2025/26 include Loughborough University, Beacon Hill, Stafford Orchard Park in Quorn, Watermead Country Park, Barkby Road Cemetery in Syston and the River Soar and GU Leicester Line from Loughborough to Kilby Bridge. For more information about the parks and open spaces in Charnwood, visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/parksandopenspaces Charnwood Borough Council News

Cllr Jewel Miah, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, has issued this statement following the Government's decision on local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Government has decided that from April 2028 there will be two unitary councils to deliver all services to residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Those councils will be: A unitary council covering Leicester, Oadby and Wigston and parts of Blaby, Charnwood, and Harborough A unitary council for the remaining area of Leicestershire and Rutland Cllr Jewel Miah said: “The Government has not accepted the district and borough councils' preferred option for three unitary councils, but has instead decided to go with the Leicester City proposal to expand the City to form one unitary council and the remainder of Leicestershire and Rutland to form a new larger outer unitary authority. “With the decision made, it will take time to fully understand the implications, and I will work with other Leaders in Leicestershire and the City on moving forward with the re-organisation. “Bringing council services together will be a complex and challenging task, but I would like to reassure our communities that Charnwood Borough Council will continue to deliver services to the high standards residents expect while safeguarding their best interests.” “As Leicestershire County Council will cease to exist and the existing County Hall buildings are moving within the new City boundary, the centre of gravity for the population of Leicestershire is now Loughborough, so this is the natural home for the new administrative centre of the outer unitary authority.” Credit Leicester City Council Charnwood Borough Council News

A 58-year-old man has been charged in connection with five robberies in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Gary Moore has been charged with five counts of robbery which relate to: A robbery at a shop in Exploration Drive, Leicester on 22 June A robbery at a business in Granby Street, Leicester on 26 June A robbery at a business in Lower Parliament Steet, Nottingham on 27 June 2026 A robbery at a bookmakers in Stamford Street, Glenfield on 28 June A robbery at a shop in Stephenson Drive, New Parks on 2 July Moore, of HMP Hatfield Lakes in Doncaster, has also been charged with escaping lawful custody, possession of a bladed article in a public place, possession of class A drugs and two counts of possession of an imitation firearm. Moore was arrested in Derby last night (Thursday 16 July) and is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’’ Court tomorrow (Saturday). A second man has also been charged with robbery and theft offences A man has been charged after a number of offences of robbery and theft in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Jack Moore, 33, of Montvale Gardens, Leicester has been charged with: One count of theft from person relating to a theft in Sweetbriar Road, Leicester on 31 May 2026 One count of theft from store relating to a store theft in Exploration Drive, Leicester on 22 June 2026 One count of robbery relating to a business in Granby Street, Leicester on 26 June 2026 One count of robbery relating to a business in Lower Parliament Steet, Nottingham on 26 June 2026 One count of robbery relating to a business in Stephenson Drive, New Parks on 2 July 2026 Two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence relating to the Lower Parliament Street and Stephenson Drive robberies One count of possessing a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place relating to the Granby Street robbery Moore has been remanded to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday 9 July). RELATED INCIDENTS Investigation into armed robbery at Glenfield bookmakers Armed robbery at store in New Parks Leicestershire Police News - Published: 20:38 17/07/2026

Detectives have begun an investigation after an armed robbery at store in New Parks this morning. Police were called to the store at 7.08am this morning (Thursday 2 July) following a report two masked men had entered the premises threatening staff. One of the men was reported to be holding what was reported to have been a pistol. A staff member was struck to the head and sustained minor injuries. The men made off on foot towards Samson Road with a quantity of cash. Detective Inspector Graeme Baxter from our Complex Investigation Team (CIT), said: “Officers remain the scene this morning carrying out enquiries which include forensic examination and reviewing CCTV. “We continue to investigate an armed robbery at a bookmakers on Sunday evening in Glenfield and believe due to the similarities and proximity to both incidents, that they could be linked. “I would like to appeal to anyone who may have seen something connected to this incident to please get in touch. Did you see two men in the area beforehand acting suspiciously? Did you see where the men went when they left the store? “Footage from doorbells, dashcams or CCTV may have also captured something so please if you live locally, please check your devices. “Any information you may have could be essential to our enquiries so please come forward if you can help.” You can pass on information by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ and quoting reference 26*386923. Alternatively call 101. UPDATED NEWS 17/07/26 Man charged in connection with robberies Pictures by Leicester Media Online Leicestershire Police News Published : 11:36 02/07/2026

Water safety will be on the agenda at South Charnwood Leisure Centre on Monday, July 20th when officers from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services Community Safety team will be on hand to offer advice to young people and parents. Join them from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. South Charnwood Leisure Centre Parkstone Road, Syston, LE7 1LY. What3words: ///shares.tuned.serve. BE WATER AWARE

Fire crews are currently responding to an incident in Loughborough Town centre, on the corner of High Street, Baxter Gate and Market Place, and are working alongside Leicestershire Police on this ongoing incident. Several streets have been closed and Police cordons remain in place this morning. Motorists should avoid the area and expect delays. A man is on the top of a two-story building, trained Police negotiator’s are engaging with the man. A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said: “I can confirm we were called to the High Street in Loughborough just after 9am today (Tuesday 14 July) after concerns were raised about the welfare of a man on the roof of a building. Officers are communicating with him and in the interests of safety road closures are in place." A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Our crews are currently responding to an incident in Loughborough town centre, on the corner of High Street, Baxter Gate and Market Place, and working alongside Leicestershire Police colleagues. Some streets have been closed. Motorists should avoid the area and expect delays." More to follow. Update A man who cause major disruption in Loughborough and Leicester on the same day has been charged Pictures by Leicester Media Online

The family of a man who was found dead in Loughborough earlier this month have paid tribute to him. Ashley Menzel, 42, was found in a caravan parked in a layby on the A6 Derby Road on Monday 6 July. An investigation into his death was launched by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU and further enquiries established he had been involved in an altercation in the days leading up to being located. Ashley Menzel In a statement, his family said: “Ashley was a beloved son, brother, boyfriend, uncle and nephew. “He as a beloved member of the family who will be deeply missed by all of us. He was his mum’s little boy and his dad’s best friend. “Though he had recently been going through a hard time, was on the road to recovery before his life was brought to a sad and abrupt end.” Two men aged 56 and 42, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on bail while enquiries continue. Anyone with information about the incident can call 101 or visit www.leics.police.uk, quoting reference 26*398136 Leicestershire Police News - Published: 14:10 17/07/2026