The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.
The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in:
Bedford Borough has been allocated £2,296,175 of funding, which will be used for local projects across the themes:
strengthening social fabric and community connections through investment in local infrastructure and community-led projects, as well as building the foundations for localised economic development.
Investment to support the development and growth of local businesses and stimulate innovation and collaboration between businesses and partners within and across sectors.
Investing in the core skills provision to meet local needs and supporting people to progress into work, including those who are disadvantaged or furthest from the labour market.
Information on UKSPF projects will be shared as they are developed and delivered across the Borough.
We invite applications for grants under our UK Shared Prosperity Fund. There are grants available for community infrastructure projects and for cultural projects in Bedford Borough.
The Community Infrastructure Grant Fund is for capital investment only. There is a funding pot of £455,000 available for funding for new, or improvements to existing, community and neighbourhood infrastructure projects.
The minimum grant that can be applied for under this fund is £1,000 and the maximum is £20,000.
The Cultural Grant Fund is for revenue investment only. There is a funding pot of £110,000 available for grants for the support for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities. The minimum grant that can be applied for under this fund is £1,000 and the maximum is £20,000.
Applications for both grants are now open and can be submitted at any point up until 10am on 2 August 2024 (or sooner if all funds have been allocated). All projects must be completed by 5 January 2025.
Please complete the appropriate application form and return it to BedfordUKSPF@bedford.gov.uk
Applications will be assessed against the set criteria, then funds allocated on a competitive basis, based on the quality and feasibility of the proposals, until the fund total is depleted.
All applications will be considered however, the Council would like to support as many projects as possible with the funding available and it would, therefore, be favourable if co-funding has been obtained.
We welcome applications from a range of local organisations, such as registered charities, voluntary, community groups, Parish Councils and not for profit organisations with a constitution.
We encourage collaboration and partnership among different stakeholders to maximise the impact and sustainability of the projects but do require a single partner to lead an application and hold the agreement.
In addition, Bedford Borough Council has been successful in securing £552,352 from the Rural England Prosperity Funding (REPF). This funding is a top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to support activities that specifically address the particular challenges faced by rural areas.
The Fund will be used to provide grants to provide capital funding to:
The REPF grants opened in September 2023. See our Rural England Prosperity Fund webpage for applications forms and further details.
More information about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund can be found on GOV.UK.
