Rochford District Council is delighted to announce that over £244,000 in grants has been awarded to support creative, heritage and high street projects that will be delivered between May 2024 and March 2025.
These projects are funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Seven grants have been allocated from the Council’s share of UKSPF in a bid to level up opportunity and prosperity, build pride in our places, strengthen our communities and increase life chances.
The successful applications are:
- National Trust - Improve the paths at Rayleigh Mount to make the heritage asset more accessible, replace and introduce new handrails, create new engaging interpretation and install people counters.
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) - Create greater access to the RSPB reserve at Wallasea Island by providing a new accessible toilet facility and provide two new accessible shelters.
- Make Your Market – Support local entrepreneurs and performers, with a spotlight on young people. Markets and events will be held in Rayleigh and Rochford, featuring stallholders, live performances and creative workshops.
- The Cultural Engine – Co-ordinate the Orchard Cultural Programme, celebrating the culture and heritage of the District. Events will be delivered between early summer and late September, with a finale event in Rochford Town Centre on 28 September 2024.
- Essex Cultural Diversity Project – Host an outdoor Global Village event at King George V Playing Fields to celebrate the District’s culture, history and diversity.
- Show Up Productions – Run 22 theatrical performances and ‘have a go’ creative sessions to be delivered in towns and villages across the District.
- Rochford Parish Council – Install new Christmas lights in Market Square and Bradley Way and install footfall counters.
Councillor Michael Hoy, Lead Member for Resources, Climate Change and Economy at Rochford District Council, said: “I would like to congratulate all the successful grant applicants who will be delivering a diverse range of creative events and projects. Helping to build on residents’ pride in their places and support greater health and wellbeing in our communities are the aims of this grant scheme and we believe these projects will support these aims.”
Earlier this year, the Council invited community organisations to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 towards projects or initiatives which either improved local high streets and town centres or enhanced the offer of cultural or heritage assets.
Rochford District Council will receive a total of £1m in funding from UKSPF, over a three-year period ending March 2025.
For further information visit: www.rochford.gov.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-fund