What is Rural England Prosperity Funding and how does it benefit the rural areas of Bedford Borough?
Some local authorities have been eligible for funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). This fund is a top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support activities that specifically address the particular challenges faced by rural areas.
Bedford Borough Council successfully secured £552,352 from the Rural England Prosperity Funding (administered via DEFRA).
How will REPF be invested locally?
This funding is being administered via the provision of competitively awarded capital grants for rural communities and businesses, running until March 2025.
Grants are available under the following interventions for supporting rural businesses:
| Intervention | Funding allocation and maximum grant limit | Co-funding and completion date |
|---|---|---|
| Small/Micro Business Investment - includes capital funding for net zero infrastructure for rural businesses, and diversification of farm businesses outside of agriculture to encourage starting up, expanding or scaling those businesses | £160,000 (up to £20,000 per grant) | 30% co-funding. All projects must be completed by 5 January 2025 |
| Visitor Economy (rural capital grant) - includes development and promotion of local attractions, trails and tourism products | £58,000 (up to £10,000) | 30% co-funding. All projects must be completed by 5 January 2025 |
Further details on the objectives, indicative outputs and indicative outcomes for each intervention and the application process are given in the guidance below:
- Rural Business grants application guidance and FAQs (PDF)
- Rural Business Grants Application form (Word)
To support rural communities grants are available under the following interventions:
| Intervention | Funding allocation and maximum grant limit | Co-funding and completion date |
|---|---|---|
| Funding for active travel enhancements in the local area | £199,352 (up to £25,000 per grant) | 25% co-funding. All projects must be completed by 5 January 2025 |
| Impactful volunteering and social action projects to develop social and human capital in local places. | £67,500 (up to £10,000 per grant) | 20% co-funding. All projects must be completed by 5 January 2025 |
| Creation of and improvements to local rural green spaces | £67,500 (up to £10,000 per grant) | 20% co-funding. All projects must be completed by the 5 January 2025 |
The objectives, indicative outputs and indicative outcomes for each of the identified interventions and further details for the grants are given in the criteria section of application form below:
Which areas are eligible for REPF?
For REPF purposes, rural areas are:
- towns, villages and hamlets with populations below 10,000 and the wider countryside
- market or ‘hub towns’ with populations of up to 30,000 that serve their surrounding rural areas as centres of employment and in providing services.
To see whether you are located within an eligible area for REPF, open the link to DEFRA’s Magic Map and follow the instructions:
- DEFRA Map to show REPF eligible areas: Magic Map Application.
- Under ‘Table of Contents’ select ‘Administrative Geographies’ then ‘Other Administrative Boundaries’ then select ‘Rural England Prosperity Fund’.
- Search for the location by entering the postcode within the search bar (top left of page) or manually zoom in on a location.
- You will find a toolbar of icons above the map. Select the ‘Identify’ icon and click on the location of your project on the map. A pop-up box will appear notifying you if the area is considered rural for the purposes of REPF.
Who can apply for REPF?
Any rural organisation with legal status can apply for REPF. This may include local authorities, public sector organisations, higher and further education institutions, private sector companies, voluntary organisations and registered charities. Grants must be for business and community purposes.
There is a specific exclusion for REPF funding that it cannot be used to support projects that have received funding from other DEFRA schemes, including the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, the Farming Investment Fund or the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund.
Read the REPF Prospectus for further information on Rural England Prosperity Funding
How to apply for funding
Applications can be made at any time, although they will only be considered at the monthly meeting of the REPF Grant Panel.
To ensure an application is considered please submit your application two weeks before the date of the meeting.
The Mayor of Bedford Borough may consider urgent applications at other times where it is considered appropriate.
Meeting dates
(Dates may be subject to review)
- 10 June 2024
- 8 July 2024
- 12 August 2024
- 9 September 2024
- 14 October 2024
- 11 November 2024
The Council reserves the right to close the application process early if there is a high demand. We cannot accept late or incomplete applications. We would encourage you to submit your application as early as possible if you have all of the required information for your application.
Email bedfordukspf@bedford.gov.uk if you need any further information,