Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been awarded £4.3million government funding towards driving growth and reducing inequality.
The cash, part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), is part of government’s Levelling Up agenda, which will spend £2.6billion across the UK by April 2025. Details on how city and district councils can submit bids for project funding will be released in the new year.
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson. Picture: Keith Heppell
Dr Nik Johnson, Labour mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said: “£4.3m is a huge and welcome boost for our region-wide efforts tackling inequality and deprivation. As a Combined Authority, our core purpose is to make life better, healthier and fairer for all and this new funding from government brings us closer to that goal.”
Chair of the business board, Al Kingsley said: “Delighted to welcome additional funding from UKSPF, which will make a positive contribution to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“This funding will empower local areas to make positive changes in our communities, which will make a difference to our economy, environment and most importantly individuals in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”
Previously, the Combined Authority received nearly £10m in April 2022 for three years of funding from Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), resulting in £3m per year for projects.
The scheme is funding 38 projects across district and city councils, due to be completed by March 2025.
Cambridge City Council has launched projects to support communities in deprived areas, helping people access opportunities and skills to maximise their potential and ambitions. One scheme was Local Business Resilience Support, which provided one to one support to businesses and start-ups in Cambridge’s wider service economy. The focus is on engaging with businesses most impacted by Covid, which are still adapting to changes in consumer behaviour and are facing rising costs and labour shortages.
A £600,000 grant was provided for Northstowe community development, which included supporting amenities within the two new buildings planned for Northstowe, the community centre and local centre.
There have been also been a number of schemes including a career service, supported internships and a Pride of Place grant scheme to help parish councils to apply for funding to create or improve and make more accessible local green spaces and woodlands.
East Cambridgeshire has provided grants to stimulate business growth, including establishing a skills and employment hub to boost computer literacy and a scheme to promote regional tourism.
South Cambridgeshire’s projects include library schemes to support business start-ups, particularly for women and ethnic minorities, through UKSPF funding.