UK Shared Prosperity Fund update

What is UKSPF?

In April 2022, the government announced The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Primarily a replacement to previous European funding, the fund’s aims were to address inequalities in prosperity and to overcome geographical inequalities in the country.

The council put together an investment plan to make the case for support and apply for funding. This included a wide range of community projects, support to existing services such as ‘Building Brighter Futures’ and ‘Worcestershire Growth Hub’ and an expansion of skills support for local residents.

What did Wyre Forest get?

Following our application to government, Wyre Forest District Council received just over £3 million in funding to support projects between 2022/23 and 2024/25 financial years.

We were tasked with supporting interventions over three priorities. These are;

• Communities and Place
• Supporting Local Business
• People and Skills

This funding allowed us to continue funding support for many key services, and to allow us to work with community groups to improve facilities across the district.

Below are some of the projects we have been able to support.

List of projects supported by Wyre Forest District Council

Communities and Place

• Improvements to Stourport Community Centre – security measures and kitchen upgrade
• Destruction of derelict changing rooms at Spennells - handing over to local Scouts group
• Kidderminster BID’s ‘Town Hall on Tour’ events and promotions
• Wheelchair access and performing plinth at Exchange Square Kidderminster
• Weaving Sheds – repair of roof and repurposing of the former indoor market site in Kidderminster
• ‘Natural Networks’ – a grant for communities to improve green spaces in the district, delivered by Worcestershire County Council
• St Anne’s Bewdley – funding to support creation of a community hub and to improve the townscape and public realm in this prominent location

Supporting local business

• Worcestershire Growth Hub – continued our support of the free business advise service for the county
• Start-up business Support – delivered by Worcestershire County Council
• Workshops and webinars – delivered by Worcestershire County Council
• Innovate Worcestershire – grants, advice and guidance for business innovation
• Enterprise Worcestershire – business coaching and mentoring
• Net Zero Worcestershire – grants and guidance for investing in carbon reduction an reduced energy costs
• BetaDen – business incubator and accelerator
• Visit Severn Valley – new website and marketing campaign to encourage tourism to the Severn Valley area

People and Skills

• Building Brighter Futures – delivered by Community Housing, a programme of support and mentoring to address the economical inactive of the district.
• Careers Worcestershire - a county wide programme to provide careers advice to young people
• Skills Boost Worcestershire - grant for employers to upskill their workforce in non-mandatory subjects.
• Professional Skills for the Workforce – delivered by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, the project works with employers to upskill existing staffs digital and life skills.
• Digital Skills Pathway - delivered by Community Housing, this addresses digital skills in the community.

How are the projects progressing?

Communities and Place - Outputs

We are on course to support:

• Over 200 community events
• 24 volunteering opportunities
• The creation of 1,200 sq m. of new green and blue space
• Over 40 community groups or organisations
• The improvement of three local tourism, cultural or heritage assets
• Improvements are  underway for wheelchair accessible/step free access at Exchange Street, Kidderminster 

Supporting local business - outputs

• Exceeded our target of 45 for the number of economically inactive people engaging with keyworker support services by engaging 126
• With a target of 121, so far we have engaged 103 individuals in job searching
• So far we have supported 92 individuals to gain employment with a target of 125
• 22 Individuals gained a qualification or completed a course following support with a target of 51
• Exceeded our target of 35 by 60, helping 95 socially excluded individuals to access support
• We've supported 119 individuals to engage in life skills exceeding our target of 100