Nearly £2million awarded to projects by South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership

Nearly £2million has been awarded by South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership this week to support local business growth, skills and community projects across the sub-region through the UK Shared Prosperity and Rural Prosperity Funds (UKSPF/REPF), along with the next phase of the Lincolnshire Community Foundation'sGRASSroots scheme.

The majority of the funding has been awarded through the 'Communities and Place' and 'Supporting Local Business' areas of focus, targeting those aiming to have a positive, meaningful impact on communities in Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland, as well as those looking to support local businesses to develop and create jobs in the area.

About half a million pounds has been granted through the first round of the Partnership's People and Skills awards, which is helping to directly support residents access higher paid, higher skilled work while also reducing unemployment and economic inactivity locally.

The latest round of funding has allowed the Partnership to expand the reach of UKSPF - which was made available by the Government to invest in and empower local communities - ensuring that the greatest possible number of areas within the sub-region benefit from support. This includes communities such as Louth, Wainfleet, Frieston and Holbeach, ensuring that the prosperity the fund brings is truly shared.

Through the UKSPF main programme, £1.6million will be distributed between:

Partnership-wide:

LCVS Community Transport (ELDC / SHDC): Looking to develop and enhance community transport infrastructure across the entire sub-region, aiming to increase the number of journeys available and volunteers taking part.

Community-Based Digital Support Sessions (BBC / ELDC / SHDC):Using local venues across the Partnership area to support residents in our Districts (particularly in rural communities) to access digital services, go online and become digitally savvy , including supporting them to access key online services such as health providers and HMRC, as well as scam-awareness training.

PAB Languages - Global Entrepreneurs (BBC / ELDC / SHDC): This project will provide a structured programme supporting the development of entrepreneurship and upskilling employees of our larger businesses to engage with export and international markets, drawing participants from people in employment in food processing, logistics, social care and e-commerce.

Heritage Skills in South and East Lincolnshire (BBC / ELDC / SHDC):A Programme to encourage the development of traditional and 'at risk' heritage and craft skills, giving residents in our area the opportunity to try their hand at skills like lime plastering, traditional joinery and thatching, as well as supporting them to explore future careers in the heritage construction sector

Connect2Grow (BBC / SHDC): A project focussed on reducing economic inactivity in Boston and South Holland, helping individuals who are economically inactive or in receipt of universal credit  skills training and support, identifying suitable vacancies, providing job interviews and  follow-on in-work support.

Higher Level Engineering Skills for South Lincolnshire's Key Sectors (BBC / SHDC): Working with local employers to build engagement, shape provision and strengthen local access to specialist higher level training in food and manufacturing engineering courses at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing. This will be supported by a Programme providing insight into the sector for local school-aged learners, giving them experiences of and hopefully, an interest in working in our area's vital agri-tech and food industries.

Future Skills Programme (BBC / ELDC): Delivered by the TEC Partnership, this will deliver digital training to 100 economically inactive beneficiaries focused on digital employability skills including data management, design, multimedia and AI support, supporting this group to gain key digital skills and access employment with local employers

East Lindsey only:

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 800^th 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 only:

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.

In addition, just under £300,000 will be distributed to the following Parish Councils, Village Halls and Community Groups through the Lincolnshire Community Foundation (LCF) 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, Councillor 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."

From East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for The Coastal Economy, and Councillor Adam Grist, portfolio holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy, added: "We're delighted to see more vital funding distributed in East Lindsey, especially given the focus on areas of the District that have been historically under-represented

"The areas targeted include  transport, tourism and town centres. These are issues of real interest and passion for many of our residents and businesses, and we hope that this support can help us to take a real positive step forward in addressing this feedback."

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."

Following this round of the Partnership's UKSPF/REPF Programme for 'Supporting Local Business' and 'Communities and Place' funding, these areas of focus are closed for new expressions of interest.

Community groups, parish councils or community projects seeking funding, can still access UKSPF grants is still available through LCF's GRASSroots scheme: UK Shared Prosperity GRASSroots Grants Fund - Lincolnshire Community Foundation (lincolnshirecf.co.uk)

Any businesses seeking funding to support growth, can apply for support through the Partnership's Grants 4 Growth programme: Grants4Growth Home Page - Grants 4 Growth (sholland.gov.uk)