Community projects in South Holland, Boston Borough and East Lindsey handed share of almost £2 million funding
Nearly £2 million will be shared amongst community projects in the area.
The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership have announced the latest recipients from the Govenment’s UK Shared Prosperity and Rural Prosperity Funds, along with the next phase of the Lincolnshire Community Foundation’s GRASSroots scheme.
Recipients include local community projects and services which will benefit the sub-region, which incorporates South Holland District Council, Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council.
Recipients across the sub-region include:
LCVS Community Transport (ELDC/SHDC): £24,640. 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): £19.960. 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): £8,343. 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): £22,248. 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): £140,569.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): £61,509. 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.
South Holland:
St. Mary’s Church, Whaplode: £20,412. 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: £29,276. This project focuses 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: £57,447. 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: £31,220. 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): £150,000. 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.
East Lindsey:
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 800th 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.
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:
South Holland:
Whaplode Drove Badminton Club £5,018, Gedney Parish Council £13,840, Boxes of Hope £24,999, Whaplode Village Hall Committee £9,673.
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.
Coun 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.”
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