UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF or the Fund) is a central pillar of the UK government's ambitious Levelling Up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK.
It provides £2.6 billion of new funding for local investment by March 2025, with all areas of the UK receiving an allocation from the Fund via a funding formula rather than a competition. It will help places right across the country deliver enhanced outcomes and recognises that even the most affluent parts of the UK contain pockets of deprivation and need support.
Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils each received £1m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The projects that are to be funded from the UKSPF are detailed below.
Lewes District Council
Peacehaven Community Hub
The project aims to expand the community development model used by Havens Community Hub CIC to a central location in Peacehaven. It will include shared spaces and partnership hot desks where the partner organisations involved can improve the life-course of at risk people, including removing barriers in the path of disabled people, including access to benefit advice (CAB), reducing food inequality (Havens Food Cooperative), peer support for business owners (BNI & Chambers), transport poverty reduction (Havens Community Cars) and hot desks and drop in sessions provided by other local organisations (Peacehaven, Saltdean and Newhaven Access Group, Sussex Police and Neighbourhood Watch, Fire Service and others) at advertised intervals.
Changing Spaces - Landport and beyond
The project centres around Landport Recreation Ground in Lewes and also looks at links with the wider cycling infrastructure network to the north of Lewes. It can broadly be split into 4 distinct deliverables.
- Construction of a purpose-built tarmac pump track for cycling/skating/scooters.
- Construction of a 'DIY' skatepark extension built by local volunteers supervised by an industry professional.
- Feasibility study of the cycling infrastructure and multi-user path options, of approximately 8 to 9 km in length, between South Chailey, Cooksbridge and Lewes.
- Biodiversity and habitat improvements.
Find Your Future - Work, Learning and Volunteering
The project proposes the extension of programmes with current ESF funding that end in March 2023 that deliver targeted support for those disengaged from the labour market, even though they may be aware of the number vacancies available in a wide range of sectors across the Borough.
ReNewhaven
The project proposes to set up an accessible community TV station for 'Newhaveners' that will act as a catalyst to attract other creative industries to the area. The TV channel would be the focus for the community hub, inclusive, open to all with many engaged community groups, where they profile their interests. It also offers the Council, the NHS, the Chamber of Commerce and similar, weekly programmes to communicate key messages to foster civic duty and share information. In partnership with the DWP in Newhaven and Lewes and with East Sussex College the applicant will continue to run digital skills transfer courses particularly to the young and unemployed to will create opportunities and employment.
Net Zero 360 for SMEs - Clean Growth UK
The project will engage 500+ Lewes small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in net zero awareness-raising communications and deliver intensive Net Zero 360 support to 100 SMEs. It aims to provide local SMEs with the knowledge, tools and support they need to reach net zero.
Cliff Gardens Project
The Cliff Gardens Project proposes to develop from use from a public Highway, a garden including a cycle track and footpath. The garden will consist of 7 beds with Corten Steel surrounds. Each bed will depict a different habitat. The beds will contain appropriate plants for each habitat. Large Sculptures of buoys and fish will inform and attract sponsorship.
Start and Specialise
'Start' is a programme to support new early-stage businesses in Lewes that have registered within two years of receiving support.
'Specialise' will allow businesses to access specialist advice and support from a pool of qualified and experienced consultants who are experts in their field.
Employment Support for Economically Inactive People
Work with unemployed adults with a focus on (but not exclusively) people aged over 50, people with a disability and health condition, women, people from an ethnic minority, young people not in education, employment or training and people with multiple complex needs (homeless, care leavers, ex/offenders, people with substance abuse problems and victims of domestic violence).
Eastbourne Borough Council
Strengthening Eastbourne's Digital Capacity
Helping young people get online for the first time, people gaining broader digital skills, people gaining IT skills to enable them to work, developing specialist IT skills to enable people to work in the digital sector.
Business Support in Eastbourne
Through collaboration, the funding is an opportunity for EDEAL to rollout their successful LEAP business start-up programme and Mini LEAP social enterprise start-up programme currently operating in the LDC area.
Young Entrepreneur Business Experience
To provide support to enable young people to start-up in business at Eastbourne Borough Market. Involves:
- Training (business planning, marketing, customer service, social media)
- Purchase of equipment (gazebos)
- Mentoring from other traders and the market management
- New and themed markets
Shinewater Park Discovery Centre
The project centres around the construction of a kiosk and toilet facility with educational opportunities.
Find Your Future - Work, Learning and Volunteering
The project proposes the extension of programmes with current ESF funding that end in March 2023 that deliver targeted support for those disengaged from the labour market, even though they may be aware of the number vacancies available in a wide range of sectors across the Borough.
Connecting the Town to the Downs
A new way-marked trail linking Eastbourne Railway Station with the start of the South Downs Way and the new England Coast Path. Includes the installation of sculptural way-markers and new and improved promotional resources in print and online.
Net Zero 360 for SMEs - Clean Growth UK
The project will engage 500+ Eastbourne small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in net zero awareness-raising communications and deliver intensive Net Zero 360 support to 100 SMEs. It aims to provide local SMEs with the knowledge, tools and support they need to reach net zero.
Start and Specialise
'Start' is a programme to support new early-stage businesses in Lewes that have registered within two years of receiving support.
'Specialise' will allow businesses to access specialist advice and support from a pool of qualified and experienced consultants who are experts in their field.
Employment Support Economically Inactive People
Work with unemployed adults with a focus on (but not exclusively) people aged over 50, people with a disability and health condition, women, people from an ethnic minority, young people not in education, employment or training and people with multiple complex needs (homeless, care leavers, ex/offenders, people with substance abuse problems and victims of domestic violence).
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