Seven community celebrations and commemorations of VE Day in North Kesteven have benefitted from a grant fund made available to help deliver local activity.
With the grant fund remaining open for further applications for events relating to the 80th anniversary of VJ Day in August, community and voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises with financial resources below £10,000 can still apply for up to £500 each to support local events that benefit communities.
Funded activity must take place within a week either side of August 15 and be of benefit to North Kesteven residents. Deadline for applications is July 21 and early application is advised. See www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/fundingfor eligibility criteria and an application form.
The seven events funded for VE Day were:
- Anwick – towards catering, licensing, advertising and entertainment costs for a day of cinema screenings, village decorations and showcase of village memories on May 10.
- Bassingham – towards decorations, catering and costs associated with a Brownie and Guides tea dance and afternoon tea on May 6.
- Billinghay – towards food, decorations and a 1940s singer at a buffet following a parade and wreath laying on May 8.
- Burton Pedwardine – towards the costs of a commemorative Tommy state bunting and flags for a village barbecue and quiz on May 5.
- Greylees – towards food, entertainment and dance captain for a tea dance at the New Chapel on May 8.
- Swaton – towards the costs of ice cream, drinks, bunting and planter displays through the village linked to a beacon lighting on May 8.
- Walcott – towards food, decorations, drinks and promotion of an afternoon tea at the village hall on May 11.
Council Leader Cllr Richard Wright, said it was clear that these small grants had made a significant difference in both initiating and broadening celebration events and activity, ensuring more people could participate in paying tribute to a generation of people who had contributed so much in the pursuit of freedom and peace.
“A we saw, VE Day 80 was a wonderful opportunity to come together in celebration of what we have in common, and to use the occasion to reach out to neighbours, friends and our wider communities, and VJ Day brings that opportunity again,” he said.
“The fund remains open through to July in order that communities can again acknowledge the significance of VJ Day in August that brought the war to its eventual end, and pay further tribute to all those who served in the Second World War, to reflect on the values that they were fighting for and to collaborate in joyful celebration of everything they secured through victory.
“For those community groups that applied and were eligible, the grants made all the difference in promoting, providing and putting-on fun, inclusive, and reflective parties, activities and events for VE Day in order that victory could be sensed again.”
Eligible costs include venue hire, promotional materials, decorations, and entertainment and the purchase of refreshments, but not alcohol, commemorative benches or structures.
- At least four weeks’ notice are needed by Lincolnshire County Council or a street closure to facilitate a street party. See: Register an event that affects the highway – Lincolnshire County Council
- Government has updated guidance on how to organise a street party at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-guide-to-organising-a-street-party/your-guide-to-organising-a-street-party - North Kesteven District Council is hosting listings of community events, concerts and VJ related activity, as it did for VE, at the www.heartoflincs.com website. Please email details to heartoflincs@n-kesteven.gov.uk for inclusion.
- Invitations for the Chairman to attend any activities can be made at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/chairman
- Any flashback photos of local VE/VJ Day activity in 1945 or in the intervening years would be appreciated to set the scene. Please email communications@n-kesteven.gov.uk
- A dedicated national interactive website has been launched with latest information and ways to get involved at ve-vjday80.gov.uk
- There’s also be a dedicated North Kesteven webpage bringing together further locally-specific information at: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ve-vj-day
- Further Information and resources on getting involved is available and at:
Royal British Legion and https://www.veday80.org.uk