Waverley Borough Council has announced that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, alongside DEFRA, has allocated it funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund, to support important projects in more disadvantaged parts of the borough.
The funding comes in two parts, with £1 million being committed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) a further £400,000 coming from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). The former fund was approved in November, after the council submitted an investment plan to the Levelling Up Department whilst the latter allocated was confirmed in September 2022, with the aim of providing further support to rural communities.
Fourteen projects are entering into agreements with the council, with this delivering Wellbeing Hubs, the Hoppa Community Transport Scheme, a domestic abuse community support programme, and a new mobile Youth and Community service. These will also be complimented with projects to encourage stability for businesses and help with furthering net zero ambitions.
Councillor Liz Townsend, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, said:
“Working with our local economic advisory forum, we have out careful consideration into the distribution of these grants to provide funding for projects that will have a significant impact where it’s needed most in Waverley.
“These funds will go towards key projects in disadvantaged areas across the borough and will provide vital facilities for those communities. As a council, we are committed to creating sustainable, healthy and inclusive communities and we believe that these projects are a step towards achieving these goals.”
All of the projects involved have been through a thorough process, with local community group, business representatives and local MPs having their say in the best way to invest in the local area. The projects will also be required to deliver clear outcomes which are then monitored and reported back to government to ensure their success.
