UKSPF Year 2 - Call for projects

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) update: SDC Call for projects

Latest news update and revised deadline for SPF and REPF funding applications only

Please note therefore that the extension means that the new deadline for all SPF and REPF applications is now Friday 28th July at 17:00 (see below for detail).

The deadline of 14th July at 17:00 for submissions to the Community Infrastructure Levy still remains the same.

Please see below a clarification note to the original email sent on 5th June relating to the information shared at the two webinars held.

During ongoing advice and discussions with several organisations exploring submitting REPF or SPF bids, the most recent split of funding for three of the themes for the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) were not included in the webinar slides.

These specific changes are in respect of the themes and interventions for E2, E7 & E10 and the amended and correct figures for funding under these themes are now as follows and are included in the updated webinar slides (see attachments).

Intervention Reported figure and actual now available:

E2: Community & neighbourhood infrastructure projects; Reported figure £1,000; the actual figure of monies available is £51,000

E7: Support for active travel enhancements in local area: Reported figure £1,500; the actual figure of monies available is £51,500

E10: Local sports facilities, tournaments, teams & leagues*; Reported figure £262,852.95; the actual figure of monies available is £162,852.95 (*) (in the case of E10 this made up of £100,000 Revenue & £62,852.95 Capital)

As a result of this latest change, we have decided to extend the deadline for all submissions to both the Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund by an additional fortnight to maximise the breath and range of projects submitted for 2023-2024.

This will enable those considering submitting applications for these themes in light of the changes to submit an application whilst at the same time allowing more time for all applicants to prepare their final submissions.

Please note therefore that the extension means that the new deadline for all SPF and REPF applications is now Friday 28th July at 17:00.

We still expect to assess and finalise approvals and issue contracts during September 2023. Please note however there is no change to the deadline for the Community Infrastructure Funding deadline which remains as originally stated to be Friday 14th July at 17:00. We will also update the website information with details of the change in deadline and changes to the funding available for these categories of intervention by attaching this information there.

NB Please also refer to the Rural England Prosperity Fund pages that are launched for the first time this year on 5th June 2023 and state clearly on the online application form, which fund you are applying for; the online form is the same for both SPF and REPF applications.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has successfully secured approximately £3.6 million from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to diversify communities, enhance local skills, improve infrastructure and help to accelerate economic growth across the district within the next two years until March 2025.

The funding comes from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which is part of the government's Levelling Up agenda, providing £2.6 billion of new funding for local authorities to apply for and invest in their districts and boroughs by March 2025. During 2022, Stratford-on-Avon District Council engaged with key partners to develop and submit an Investment Plan for the district to receive an allocation from the national fund to spend over the three year period 2022-2025.

The District Council's Investment Plan identified a range of potential projects and activities that could benefit from the funding in-line with the three priorities set out by central government: supporting communities and place, local businesses and people and skills. UKSPF will create the opportunity for investment in several selected projects and programmes, enabling those that are existing to grow and diversify as well as the delivery of a range of new and innovating activities. Organisations will be able to apply for funding to support the delivery of projects across the district until March 2025 that align to the UKSPF aims and objectives and support localised challenges and opportunities. The Council's allocation to be released for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 from central government within the financial years indicatively as follows:

* Approximately rounded figures.

The breakdown of the funding available for each theme and the split of capital or revenue funding available can be found in the application guidance notes below.

The online application form is the same one for both SPF and REPF applications, including the Legal document as well as the guidance are attached below:

Online application form link

SPF and REPF application guidance

Legal document

Webinar updated documents

UKSPF Year 2 Call For Projects

The Year 2 Call for Projects application process opens on Monday 5th June 2023 and will close at 17:00 on Friday 14th July 2023. Thereafter, all received project applications will undergo an assessment before being approved.

Online briefing sessions will be held on Thursday 15th June from 18:00-19:30 and Tuesday 20th June from 08:30-10:00 am. This will give potential applicants the opportunity to seek clarifications before they complete and submit the application forms. Alternatively, questions can be sent to ukspf@stratford-dc.gov.uk which will be responded to as soon as practically possible by the team.

There is an outline expectation to make decisions on selected projects by the end of August/early September 2023 and contracts and grants agreements to be in place by the middle-end of September 2023.

Further details will be shared on this page as the programme develops so be sure to check back for more information. The Council's Privacy Policy related to the UKSPF can be found here.