Shared Prosperity Fund
Timeline for applications
In April 2022, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) prospectus. The UKSPF is a central pillar of the UK government’s levelling up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.
The fund focuses on three key investment themes:
- community and place
- supporting local business
- people and skills (funding released in 2024 to 2025)
An investment plan was created and approved by the leader of the council, this was then submitted to government. In December 2022 the government approved our investment plan, setting out how we propose to spend the funding in our communities over the period up to March 2025.
Our proposals include:
- a creative communities grant to support events and activities
- a volunteering scheme to improve wellbeing
- utilising an empty unit/building in the town centre to create a community art hub
- equipment, advertising and expertise to support events
- improving lighting and greening in the town centre
- town centre events such as the ‘Xmas parade’ in 2022
- interactive equipment to activate open spaces
We have been allocated a total of £1,199,253:
Year | Capital | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
2022/23 | £15,000 | £130,540 |
2023/24 | £105,000 | £186,081 |
2024/25 | £467,127 | £288,505 |
Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)
In September 2022, the government launched the REPF prospectus as an addition to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We were allocated £539,728 to spend between 2023 and 2025 on capital interventions in our rural communities as part of the REPF. Our proposed approach to this funding was set out and approved by the leader of the council and submitted to government. Our investment plan has now been approved by the government.
The REPF in Maidstone aims to support rural communities to modernise and improve their assets to provide multiuse spaces that improve health, wellbeing, reduce rural loneliness, while having a positive impact on the local environment, contribute towards net zero, support the local rural economy, and promote community cohesion. Grants of up to £50,000 will be available to eligible organisations.
Before you apply make sure that you read through the REPF guidance. Please refer to these guidance notes whilst completing your form.
Applications for the Rural England Prosperity Fund have now closed. You can email ruralfund@maidstone.gov.uk for further advice.