£865k to be invested across communities in the Malvern Hills District

Up to £865,000 is set to be invested in communities across the Malvern Hills District to help reduce the cost-of-living for residents and improve wellbeing.

On 22 November, the Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) Executive Committee approved to invest the three-year UK Shared Prosperity Funds (UKSPF) in four projects. The projects are within the 'Communities and Place' objective of the Investment Plan submitted to Government in August.

The funding will be used towards the following projects which have been recommended by the Communities Panel:

• £350,000 for measures to reduce the cost-of-living for Malvern Hills residents.
• £250,000 to support community organisations to host Community Builder roles.
• £130,000 to recruit an Active Travel Officer and develop local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.
• £130,000 to invest in community arts, including supporting Severn Arts.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund 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 aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

The grant programmes will encompass support for the cost-of-living crisis, in consultation with MHDC's Financial Wellbeing Partnership, as well as developing the Community Builder model across the district further.

It is also in line with the council's asset-based community development approach which aims to build long-lasting relationships with communities.

Cllr Tom Wells, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "The UKSPF funding will make a real difference to communities across the Malvern Hills District in helping reduce the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis. By investing in the development of the Community Builder roles, and the recruitment of an Active Travel Officer and Community Arts Officer, we are helping to improve the wellbeing of residents and empower communities to achieve great things".

Extra notes:

In September 2022, Executive Committee and Council approved the governance framework for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as well as the Investment Plan for the programme, which included the submitted investment plan to Government.

As part of the agreed approach, Policy Development Panels were asked to consider projects for inclusion within the programme and make recommendations for approval to the Executive Committee.

At the meeting on 12 October 2022, the Communities Panel met to review its allocated UK Shared Prosperity Fund budget of £865,000 and make recommendations.

For more information on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, please

visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus