RBKC has announced plans to chip in £500 cash to support community celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on Thursday, 8th May.

Organisers can apply for grants up to £500 for events and the council will also waive fees for road closures and parking suspensions to encourage people to throw street parties across the borough.

RBKC officers have simplified the application process and made it faster. If you are a charity, community interest company, residents’ association, faith group, or other voluntary and community sector organisation, you can request a VE Day application form by emailing VoluntarySector@rbkc.gov.uk.

The key rules to qualify for a cash injection are: the event must be in the borough; focused on celebrating our veterans; take place between 2nd-12th May.

Funds for the grants will come from the City Living, Local Life (CLLL) funding pot. All details about CLLL can be found on the council’s website here.

The deadline for street party applications is 12pm on Friday, 11th April. For any advice, organisers can also email specialevents@rbkc.gov.uk, or call 020 7341 5762.

Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke, Lead Member for communities and community safety said: ‘On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we honour and remember the resilience and sacrifice of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. We’re making it easy for communities to hold street parties in the borough with help from our events team and small grants. I would encourage everyone to take the chance to come together as a community to celebrate and mark this historic occasion.’

You can see what events are happening in the borough by visiting the dedicated VE Day website and search by typing in the relevant post code.

The Citizen is keen to hear about your memories of VE Day itself, and we are happy to flag up any events you are staging. Please email editor@thechelseacitizen.com.