Projects in Somerset are to benefit by more than £3.6m thanks to successful bids to the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund.
The Fund was launched in the March Budget to provide funding opportunities before the launch of the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Somerset County Council, working with District Councils, submitted the funding bids on behalf of the projects that include support for rural communities, training and skills, culture, and climate change.
The eight successful initiatives will help drive forward the Somerset Recovery and Growth Plan. More than 1,000 applications across the nation were made to the £220m Fund.
The County Council invited applications from a wide range businesses and organisations across the county, these were appraised with input from the District Councils and shortlisted for submission to Government in June this year.
The successful projects are:
- Bridgwater Carnival Workshops Design and Feasibility – £270,300
- Engage Somerset – £570,872
- Partnership College – £658,846
- Social Enterprise Support Programme for Somerset (SEPS) – £601,399
- Somerset Retrofit Accelerator (pilot project) – £93,502
- Step-Up to… mobile outreach – £394,744
- Unlocking Somerset Prosperity – £726,479
- Velocity: VCSE Somerset – £322,876
The figures reflect the funding applied for and are subject to funding agreements.
Cllr David Hall, Somerset County Council Cabinet member for Economic Development, Planning and Community Infrastructure, said: “I am delighted that Somerset has won significant awards from the Fund. The submissions will help our Growth and Recovery Plan move forward.
“This local investment will help Somerset forge ahead as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and provide our communities with extra resilience. I would like to thank all those involved in the bid process for their work.”
Projects need to be delivered by June 2022 and the Fund will pave the way for the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, due to launch next year.