Rural communities get more than £500k funding

More than half a million pounds of funding is on its way to support rural community groups and businesses in Bassetlaw after they bid for funding to help improve facilities for residents and support enterprise.

Bassetlaw District Council is administering the authority’s allocation of the Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund, worth almost £714,000, over the next two financial years.

The funding is a rural top-up to the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and is being distributed to a total of 18 community groups and businesses.

Ten community groups in the district are sharing £267,259 for projects such as a wildlife discovery area, a new conference room, and solar panels. In addition, £307,635 is supporting eight businesses with new equipment, heat pump installation and building refits. Totalling £574,894 worth of first round funding.

Applications are now being invited from community groups and businesses for the second round of Rural England Prosperity Funding grants. The deadline for applications is 26^th February 2024.

Among the already successful recipients, Tuxford Town Council will be creating a new outdoor exercise gym, youth shelter, and BMX track at the Gilbert Avenue playing fields with their grant of £49,271.

Cllr Julie Leigh, Cabinet Member for Identity and Place said:

“Rural England Prosperity Fund grants are great news for our communities and businesses in rural areas of Bassetlaw.

“It provides welcome funding to support them in their efforts to improve facilities for our residents and to help businesses with their growth ambitions”.

A Treswell based business, Retford Logs, will also receive a £38,439 grant, which will be invested in machinery and storage as part of a project to provide locally produced carbon neutral fuel.

Cllr Jo White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business and Skills said:

“I am delighted to be able to offer businesses and groups across our rural communities this support. 

 “Starting or growing a business are very big steps, especially in a rural area. I back their ambition, and this will provide an additional stepping-stone that will see growth, new jobs, and establishment within a community.”

 In 2022-23, Bassetlaw District council secured more than £3.39 million of the Government’s UKSPF monies to help projects and initiatives over the next two years. It is aiming to build pride in place and increase life chances across three key areas - Community and Place, Local Businesses and People and Skills.

For more information on Rural England Prosperity Funding please visit our REPF page (Please Note: Applications for the second round of REPF have now closed).

The full list of Bassetlaw groups and projects that were successful with grant applications include:

Community Groups

Businesses

Last Updated on Wednesday, March 27, 2024