Shared Prosperity Fund
Communities and Place
The Cheshire West and Chester Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Investment Plan, approved by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, sets out identified priorities which we are looking to support, within the parameters of the Government's funding criteria. These aim to address the key challenges and opportunities that ourselves and our local stakeholders identified, namely:
- levelling up opportunity
- building better live chances
- improving people's pride in the places they live
- empowering communities to build a stronger social fabric for themselves.
To ensure that we have a transparent and fair approach to how this funding will be used, both within the Council and by external organisations, we had an open call for proposals which meet the scheme criteria in April 2023.
This has resulted in 26 projects being supported. The projects to be funded have a broad geographic coverage, including rural areas, and support a wide range of activity in line with the Investment Plan.
They also support the most deprived neighbourhoods and groups which are most exposed to the cost-of-living crisis. These include disabled people, people at risk of mental ill-health, victims of domestic violence, refugees, and LGBTQ+ community.
Successful Projects - June 2023
A second opportunity will be launched in Autumn 2023 for project activity in the 2024/25 financial year, with an indicative balance of available funding of £1.87m. An updated breakdown of available funding by theme will be published at this time.
Eligible activity and supporting documents
All proposals in both round one and future application rounds must align with one of these five interventions.
- Capital funding to develop, restore or refurbish an existing local natural, cultural and heritage assets or sites which attract tourists to the area.
- Revenue funding for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions, to deliver activities such as outreach, engagement and participatory programmes which will attract tourists to the area.
Revenue funding for:
- events/exhibitions in galleries, museums, libraries or other locations which will strengthen social cohesion or foster sense of local pride and belonging
- locally-led music and theatre performances, tours, author events and film screenings that will enhance social ties and amenities.
- outreach/engagement/participatory programmes from existing arts, cultural, heritage groups to support residents wellbeing and pride of place.
- administering a programme to establish or develop grassroot cultural/heritage volunteer led groups (including option to give out smaller grants).
- displays which will enable artist to showcase their work and support new creative entrepreneurs.
- Funding to administer a small capital grant programme to improve community space or village halls.
- Capital Grants to improve physical, cultural and community space and public realm including disability access.
- Revenue funding for activities that will enhance physical, cultural and social cohesion through support for community infrastructure and amenities, including accessibility.
- Revenue funding to administer training or capacity building programmes to support local civil society and community group leaders including support to make groups more economically sustainable.
Revenue funding for a feasibility study which would inform the development of projects which aim to:
- restore or refurbish local natural, cultural and heritage assets or sites including making these more accessible or sustainable.
- inform the development of cultural or creative activities including making these more inclusive or financially sustainable.
- address local inequalities and improve delivery of local services especially through increased social action and volunteering.
- addresses challenges/opportunities highlighted in SPF investment plan especially place-making and local regeneration projects.
Supporting documents
For further information, please contact Shared Prosperity Fund Team UKSPF@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
