UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
In April 2022, the government launched the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The UKSPF is a key part of the Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion for local investment across the UK by March 2025.
The Fund aims to:
- improve pride in place
- increase life chances
- invest in communities, people and skills
- support local business
Chelmsford’s allocation
The Fund has given us over £1.1m to deliver the aims of the UKSPF. The annual breakdown of this funding is as follows:
- 2022/23: £142,389
- 2023/24: £284,777
- 2024/25: £746,117
Chelmsford’s investment plan
We submitted our local Investment Plan in summer 2022, which the government approved in December 2022.
In 2022/23, we funded eight projects using UKSPF, including:
- Chelmsford For You campaigns to celebrate Chelmsford’s identity and narrative
- developing our Active Health referral programme
- funding Sport for Confidence, which helps people with physical or learning disabilities to access leisure activities
- a feasibility study in partnership with Mid Essex Livewell Alliance, Braintree District Council and Maldon District Council, to assess health inequalities and improve population health
- supporting the launch of a social supermarket, providing discounted food to those in need
- a feasibility study on East Chelmsford Cycle Connections
- developing a Chelmsford Retail Against Crime Partnership, to share crime data and reduce retail crime in the city centre
- a feasibility study to explore how we can support the creative sector, including data mapping
Call for proposals
We are currently looking for partners to help us deliver support to Chelmsford businesses in 2023/24.
You can read more and find out how to express an interest, before the closing date on Friday 9 June 2023.
Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)
The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) offers complementary funding to the UKSPF, targeted at supporting rural businesses and communities.
The government has given us £400,000 from the REPF to deliver projects across the next two years. In 2023/24, we can offer £100,000 of funding, with the remaining £300,000 available in 2024/25.
We submitted our REPF Investment Plan in November 2022, which the government approved in April 2023.
We will start the REPF grant programme soon and will provide details on this webpage.
Further information
If you have any questions about Chelmsford’s UKSPF, you can contact the Economic Development Team.