About

Friends of Evington is the charity for managing the projects/campaigns called Evington in Bloom, Evington Echo and other affiliated community groups.   The charity is also campaigning for an Eco community centre at Evington Park House LE5 6DE.  The charity is about building community, and looking after the environment. 

The objects of the constitution are: 

1. (1)  To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in the Evington suburb of Leicester and the surrounding area.
2. (2)  To further or benefit the residents of Evington and the surrounding area without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.In furtherance of these objects, but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power: To establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.

Evington in Bloom, like all the other Bloom groups in Britain, is the project/campaign of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). For more information follow this link https://www.rhs.org.uk   Britain is divided up into 18 regions.  East Midlands in Bloom emib.org.uk is Evington in Bloom’s regional committee.  East Midlands in Bloom organises an annual competition that all Bloom groups take part in.  The RHS/East Midlands in Bloom support like minded groups called ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ groups to improve their local area.  These groups are also judged annually by East Midlands in Bloom’s judges.  Evington in Bloom mainly gardens on land owned by Leicester City Council.  Parks and Open Spaces in Leicester City have a department called  Leicester Environmental Volunteers (LEV) https://volunteer.leicester.gov.uk  works with  Bloom and IYN groups to give them permission to garden on Leicester City Council land.  The Council, through LEV, organise a special day to celebrate the achievements of Bloom and IYN groups in Leicester City.

Evington Echo is an independent magazine that started in 1981.  The magazine was first published in June 1981 and circulated around the Evington village area.  Today (2024) it is circulated by volunteers to 6,125 homes in the Evington area.  The content of the magazine is about  the charity’s news and local news in and around Evington, clubs and societies in Evington, profiles, opinions, local talent, local history and recording local changes in Evington.  Over time these magazines in themselves become an historical record. An on-line website was set up in 2012 and today, the website can be found at evingtonecho.uk

The campaign for a Neighbourhood Centre in Evington has taken many twists and turns.  Our preferred venue has always been Evington Park House.  In Nov. 2018, the Evington Park House was still not officially recognised as a Neighbourhood Centre but until December 2023 some daytime groups with their own fob access were meeting in Evington Park House.

By January 2023 all the people with access to Evington House were asked to leave, including the Parks Services officer who was managing Evington Park House.  The house was deemed to be an underused asset and no longer needed as a operational base.  Friends of Evington have put in a request for this asset to be transferred into community use. In 2024, the charity have made partnerships with Best Community Charity and Soar Sound Radio, and have put in for a Community Asset Transfer for Evington Park House (Oct. ’24) and are now awaiting the outcome of this.

The enclosed chart shows the various activities that have taken place in connection with Friends of Evington in 2018.

FRIENDS OF EVINGTON CHART OF ACTIVITIES 2012 – 2018

In 2025, There were the following  ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ groups:

Graceworks IYN. (Totally independent and gardening on private land at the Wycliffe United Reformed Church).

Evington Village and Hall IYN

Sedgebrook Gardening Group IYN

Downing Drive Friends and Neighbours

Spencefield Lane garden

At the end of 2022 the Community groups meeting in Evington Park House have found new venues

These are:

Friendship Club meeting at Evington Village Hall

Rummikub Club meeting at the Cedars

Evington Social Club meeting at the Cedars

Gentle exercise Club with Yoga meeting (1) at St. Denys Parish Centre

Quilling and Crafts meeting at Evington Library

Also the following clubs moved out of Evington Park House earlier:

History and Heritage group meeting at the Parish Centre of St. Denys Church

Evington House Yoga meeting in the Community rooms at Evington Methodist Church

Evington Bicycle Club is closed and can only start again if Friends of Evington are successful with their CAT process.  All equipment purchased earlier is safe.