As part of a whole host of celebrations to mark the Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) 80th anniversary celebrations on 8 May 2025, Horsham District Council is offering grants to community groups, neighbourhood councils and parish councils to help local people to celebrate over the May bank holiday weekend.
Grants of up to £500 per event will be made available to encourage local communities across the Horsham District to unite and celebrate 80 years of peace since the end of World War II in Europe.
If you are planning an event from 3 to 8 May 2025, whether you are hosting a garden party or street festival, lighting a beacon or light of peace, we would love to help you make it happen.
How to apply for a grant
To apply for funding to support your VE Day activity please go to our VE Day community grants webpage.
Applications for funding are open from 20 March 2025 on a first come, first served basis.
The grant funding is open to community and voluntary groups, neighbourhood and parish councils, faith groups (provided their activities are inclusive), charities, not for profit organisations, PTAs and residents’ associations across the Horsham District.
The Council will also mark the occasion in Horsham town centre with a range of activities and events. There will be a short ceremony and a proclamation led by the Chairman at the War Memorial in the Carfax followed by a flag raising at 9am. Between 6.30pm and 7pm there will be a Ringing out for Peace from St Mary’s Church in the Causeway. There will then be a performance by the Sussex Band of the Royal British Legion at the Carfax Bandstand between 7pm and 9pm. Events will end with a closing ceremony and beacon lighting taking place between 9.15pm and 9.30pm as part of a national commemoration to round off the evening.
Commenting on the celebrations, Horsham District Council Director of Communities Paul Anderson said:
VE Day is a great opportunity to bring the whole community together and we are delighted to be hosting such a great range of events and supporting our communities district-wide to host their own events and projects in celebration of this special occasion.
VE Day was a hugely significant landmark for the nation and we hope to see plenty of local people remembering the milestone 80 years on.
Residents wishing to mark the occasion on the Monday bank holiday (5 May) with their own street party can apply for free street closure.
Residents must complete a temporary road closure application if they want to hold a VE Day street party. Please let us have your applications as soon as possible before the deadline of 7 April 2025.