2024/25 CALL FOR PROJECTS
UK SHARED PROSPERITY FUND (UKSPF) YEAR 3
AND
RURAL ENGLAND PROSPERITY FUND (REPF) YEAR 2

Guidance and Refences

This page is to guide applications for Year 3 of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund(UKSPF) and Year 2 of the Rural England Prosperity Fund. These are the final years of these funds and all actions and projects being funded by them will need to be completed by the 31st of March 2025.

UKSPF/REPF Year 3 Application Form can be found at the bottom of this page

Funding Budget Table
Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Interventions -Communities and Place Capital Revenue
E1: Funding for improvements to Town Centres & High Streets £47,467.00 £0.00
E2: Community & neighbourhood infrastructure projects £0.00 £2,036.00
E5: Built & landscaped environment to “design out crime" (**) £270,000.00 £5,831.00
E7: Support for active travel enhancements in local area £0.00 £2,500.00
E8: Campaigns to encourage visits and exploring of local area £0.00 £23,941.00
E9: Impactful volunteering and/or social action projects £0.00 £25,937.00
E10: Local sports facilities, tournaments, teams & leagues £200,000.00 £20,831.00
E14: Relevant feasibility studies £11,970.00 £0.00
Communities and Place Sub Total £529,437.00 £81,076.00
* We have an underspend from year 2 of £96,241.00 (Capital and Revenue combined) which will be allocated by Monday 11 March 2024
** Intervention E5 includes £200,000 under consideration to support and upgrade CCTV provision across the district
Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Interventions -Local Business
The allocation of SPF funding for the Local Business support has been committed to extend the County Wide 6 Business support programmes for 24/25.
* some residual underspend is being held back by SDC for further consideration.
Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Interventions Capital Revenue

Intervention 1.1: capital grant funding for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas

Examples Include:

  • The acquisition of far more productive agricultural machinery and nature recovery and resilience capital equipment; nature based solutions that protect local communities and community areas that protect from natural hazards including flooding.
  • Converting farm buildings to other business uses
  • Rural tourism such as investment in tourism in visitor accommodation, kennels and equity facilities and pet health and farm diversification for event venues
  • Food processing equipment (non farmer owned businesses only) to scale up from domestic to commercial kitchens for instance
£323,554.00 £0.00

Intervention 2.1: capital grant funding for investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities

community led (projects must align with the Government's project gigabit programme: - capital grants for provision of gigabit capable digital infrastructure at rural hubs for community use which can for example include:

  • Village Halls
  • Public Houses (pubs)
  • Post Offices
£137,049.00 £0.00

Intervention 2.7: capital grant funding for rural circular economy projects

targeted at capital grants to enable the setting up or enhancement of rural community-led repair cafes or mend workshops, including provision of premises or tools and equipment, investment in activities that enhance physical, social and cultural ties and amenities.

£319,781.00 £0.00
Rural England Sub Total £780,384.00 £0.00

Important Dates

  • Mon 11 March 2024: Call for applications opens.
  • Tues 9 April 2024: Application closing date.
  • June 2024: Funds will be issued to successful projects
  • Thurs 28 February 2025: All funding must be spent by this date.
  • Friday 28 March 2025: The UKSPF & REPF Funding Schemes end on 31 March 2025. All outputs and outcomes must be fully delivered by this date.

Those Eligible To Apply

  • All businesses including unincorporated sole traders and partnerships.
  • Other legally created bodies such as Parish Councils, Local Authorities & Charities.

Minimum and Maximum Funding Limits

  • UKSPF & REPF: a minimum grant of £2000 and a maximum limit of £50,000.

Pre-Qualification Criteria

Before commencing your UKSPF/REPF grant application form, please check you are able to satisfy ALL of the following 8 criteria. If you are unable to agree to the below and still wish to be considered for a grant, please contact the UKSPF Team on ukspf@stratford-dc.gov.uk to discuss your project.

  • Your project aligns with at least one main Intervention identified in the Funding Budget Table (Appendix 1), along with the relevant and available Revenue or Capital budget as stated
  • Your project will achieve at least 1 Output and 1 Outcome from Appendices 2 or 3, along with their specified Quantifiable Values, by 31 March 2025 at the very latest.
  • Your project will be ready to begin by June 2024, including the attaining of any third-party consents needed for the project to commence (i.e.: legal, licensing or planning permission).
  • You are confident that all UKSPF/REPF grant monies received will be spent by 28 February 2025 and all Outputs and Outcomes will be fully achieved by 31 March 2025.
  • Your designated project manager has a firm understanding of your Project's costs, will comply with the procurement conditions set by UKSPF (UK Shared Prosperity Fund: procurement (8) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) and record keeping set out in these Guidance Notes, and can accommodate any upward fluctuation in costs outside of any funding agreement.
  • You will not be spending grant funds on “In Kind" items or on any VAT element (see Financial Information below).
  • You are able to provide (1) a Risk Analysis and (2) a Data Projection Policy specific to the Project and proportionate to its size and nature.
  • You will be able to supply regular progress updates for the duration of the grant scheme

Supporting Documents

Additional Information

UKSPF/REPF Year 3 On Line Application Form

The application form will be available from here between 11 March 2024 & 9 April 2024

If you have any questions about the grant scheme or need help in completing your application form,
please contact us on ukspf@stratford-dc.gov.uk or phone 07866 672875 / 07816 315492

Contact: The Business, Enterprise & Tourism team

Last updated on 02/04/2024