UK Shared Prosperity Fund Plans

If your organisation is based in Vale of White Horse, please visit our Vale of White Horse District Council website.

Please note that the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) expression of interest form closed for applications on Friday 23 June.

We’ve secured £1m worth of funding through the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The fund sits under the government’s Levelling Up Agenda and aims to invest in communities and open spaces, increase life chances, support businesses and increase people’s skills.

We’re using the funds to help achieve aims set out in our Corporate Plan, including action on the climate emergency, and improving community and economic wellbeing.

Here’s a summary on what we’re planning to do with this funding in South Oxfordshire.

Because most of the funding secured under UKSPF will not be available until 2024/25, we’re starting work on our early-stage projects and are putting structures in place to help successfully deliver funding in later stages.

Projects already underway

We have already received our first UKSPF allocation, this relatively small amount has enabled us to start projects in the following areas:

Development and Promotion of the Visitor Economy

We recognise that local attractions, hospitality and leisure facilities can play an important role in making our district a vibrant place to live and work and we play a crucial role in helping to create the right conditions for the visitor economy to thrive.

We’ve commissioned a study of the local visitor economy to help us build a better understanding of the current challenges and opportunities available. This work will help us to develop policies, strategies, materials and assets to support this sector to provide better experiences for residents and visitors alike.

Community and Neighbourhood Infrastructure

Decarbonisation audits will be undertaken on several community buildings in our district to help organisations continue to provide vital services by reducing their costs.

The audits will help the organisations to understand how they could run their buildings more efficiently and sustainably to lower their energy bills and decrease their carbon emissions.

Arts and Leisure

We’ve commissioned work to look at providing more arts and leisure activities within our communities.

Projects will focus on areas where support is needed most and on establishing a new programme for our residents. During the later stages, we plan to create other community events and experiences, such as arts and nature trails.

How local businesses can get involved in our future projects

We’re looking at how funding for 2023/24 and 2024/25 can best be used to support our projects.

When opportunities arise, we will detail how local businesses can tender for projects or bid for grant funding to help us deliver the UKSPF programme.

To find out when projects become available, make sure you register to receive our Business Support newsletter and join our procurement portal.

Governance

Governance for the scheme includes a Local Partnership Group, a Delivery team and several sub-working groups.

Local Partnership Group

The Local Partnership acts as a strategic sounding board, providing oversight and scrutiny. It reviews and contributes ideas for each of the schemes and receives regular progress reports from the Delivery team to make sure we’re fulfilling our and UKSPF’s aims.

The Local Partnership Group is currently being formed.

Delivery team

The Delivery Team is responsible for operational decision making and managing the funding awards, putting together reviews and monitoring the programme’s performance.

The Delivery Team is chaired by our Economic Development Manager.