Nearly £2million has been awarded by South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership this week to support local business growth, skills and community projects through the UK Shared Prosperity and Rural Prosperity Funds.
Alongside a boost for efforts to boost business, community organisations in a host of villages will get a share of the money.
East Lindsey:
- St. Mary’s Church Environs Project, Horncastle: Improving the public space of the St. Mary’s Church Yard with a particular focus on biodiversity, creating wildlife friendly zones, replacing pathways and undertaking urgent repairs to the site.
- Louth Navigation Recreation – Louth Navigation Trust: A project to deliver Slipways at Town Lock, Austen Fen, Fire Beacon and Tetney Lock to enable safe and easy access to the water for the public, including for those with disabilities. This will enable residents to engage with activities like paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking in Louth. The project will open up 14 miles of usable water in the Louth area.
- The Old Bolingbroke Butcher’s Shed: Restoring and refitting the vacant butcher’s shed at the historic entrance to Bolingbroke Castle with basic facilities including toilets, basic kitchen facilities and services to offer amenity to visitors. This will provide much-needed facilities at this visitor attraction, in time for the celebration of the Castle’s 800th anniversary.
- Louth Art Trail: A project to replace and install three new works of public art in Louth and update the existing Louth Art trail, complemented by a heritage and arts learning Programme for local schools, based on engagement with the trail and with local arts and history.
- Wainfleet Market Renewal: Making substantial improvements to Wainfleet town centre including repairing the historic Buttercross and clocktower, resurfacing the Market Place and promoting the area’s unique market and heritage assets.
- Destination Lincolnshire Going for Growth Wolds Website: Funding for the re-development of the existing Lincolnshire Wolds website
South Holland:
- Lincolnshire Community Foundation GRASSroots (additional allocation):A substantial increase in the amount of funding available for Parish Councils, Village Halls and Community projects. This hugely successful scheme, already over half committed in South Holland, will receive a significant boost from the UK Shared Prosperity fund to enable more local areas across South Holland District to access additional support. Examples of projects already supported include new play equipment for Lutton Parish Council, Gosberton Youth Centre and Tydd St Mary Parish Council.
- St. Mary’s Church, Whaplode:A pilot scheme creating a digital approach to exploring churches in South Holland. Plans include the creation of a 360-degree virtual tour, QR-led audio tour, training for volunteers and new digital welcome screens.
- The Future of Food in the Lincolnshire Fens: This project focusses initiatives which support the development of agriculture, the natural environment and technology in Lincolnshire’s Food sector, and scoping innovative trial projects focussed on productivity, growth and sustainability. This will include sharing practice with local businesses to support them in increasing their growth and productivity.
- Active Lincolnshire, Active Communities: This programme will deliver a place-based skills development programme aimed at upskilling local residents to work or volunteer in the sport and physical activity sector.
- Tonic Health – Project Gen Z: Supporting a cohort of young people to increase their personal confidence and teach them a range of skills to improve employability, including a qualification at either NQF Level 1 or Level 2 in a business-related subject. Offering this group a guaranteed job interview with a named local employer.
- Grants 4 Growth II (Additional Allocation): A further £150,000 is being allocated to Grants 4 Growth for distribution in grants to local businesses, to support job creation, growth in turnover and business development across the District.
Almost £300,000 will be distributed to the following Parish Councils, Village Halls and Community Groups through the Lincolnshire Community Foundation GRASSroots scheme, which is funded by UKSPF and REPF across the sub-region.
The money will be distributed among:
Boston:
- We’ll Meet Again Museum
- Rhubarb Theatre
- Fosdyke Playing Field
East Lindsey:
- Grainthorpe & Conisholme Village Association
- Sir Joseph Banks Society
- Alford Corn Exchange Community Group
- Jubilee Park Woodhall Spa
- Wragby Youth Centre Trust
- Ramsden Village Hall
- Covenham Village Volunteers
- Stickney Bowls Club
- The Askefield Project
South Holland:
- Whaplode Drove Badminton Club
- Gedney Parish Council
- Boxes of Hope
- Whaplode Village Hall Committee
Leader of Boston Borough Council Anne Dorrian, said: “I am pleased to see another round of innovative local community groups and organisations rewarded for their fantastic ideas, and cannot wait to see their plans put into action. It will be great to see these projects making a real difference to our residents, businesses and the Borough, while continuing to improve and develop the Boston area.”
Councillor Paul Redgate, portfolio holder for Finance, Commercialisation, Levelling Up and UK Shared Prosperity Funding at South Holland District Council, said: “It’s great to see more brilliant, South Holland based projects receiving grants in this round of funding, a Round which demonstrates that the fund is distributed widely across the District. I especially welcome the increased focus on skills and employability and supporting people through qualifications and into employment.
“It’s important we do all we can to support the food, manufacturing and logistics businesses that are such a key part of our local economy, and I am confident that these successful projects can play and important role in doing this and making South Holland a great place to live, work and visit.”
