Sold-out NALC event highlights funding solutions for smaller parish and town councils
Our latest event on 11 February 2026 explored how smaller parish and town councils can access practical, achievable funding options. Many smaller parish and town councils need funding options that go far beyond the precept, and as more assets are taken on at the local level, many are required to find additional income to protect and deliver projects for their communities.
Attendees heard from clerks Jo Grellier of Watchet Town Council and Vanessa Lowe of Alcester Town Council, alongside Deborah Clarke, the rural evidence and village halls manager at Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE). Each speaker gave valuable insight that attendees can apply to their own communities.
Jo Grellier began by giving a detailed, practical walkthrough of how her council secured over £140k in external funding for its skate park project. They shifted their approach from relying solely on the precept to proactively seeking external funding. She advised attendees to be “shovel ready” with the design, planning, costs and risks all prepared. She said, “Persistence is crucial… each rejection helped us refine proposals,” and encouraged parish and town councils to feel empowered by the process.
Vanessa Lowe followed and shared an inspiring story about saving and restoring the Gregg Hall, a nearly derelictcommunity facility that needed £1 million of work, despite the council having a precept of only £400,000. Her message of community engagement and clever funding strategy was compelling, and she said, “It wasn’t just about money. Our volunteers became the backbone of our entire project.” By staying in constant communication with the community and breaking the project into phases, the impossible became possible.
Deborah Clarke spoke on sector-wide guidance, emphasising that strong business planning, community demand, and targeted applications are essential. She highlighted the importance of village halls and how parish and town councils should support them by using their services. Her overarching message was that, with the right governance, planning, and targeting, even small rural halls can secure the funding they need, reminding delegates that “even if you are very small, that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve something that is important to your community”.
The event concluded with a Q&A that covered how funding and workload were managed, where to find data to evidence community need, and how to manage volunteers safely and transparently. All the speakers emphasised that persistence is crucial and that even the most successful councils face rejection. The event reinforced that with the right skills, evidence and determination, even the smallest councils can deliver impactful projects for their communities.
