UK Shared Prosperity Fund

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. It aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing across three strands: Communities and Place, Supporting Local Business, and People & Skills. Redbridge Council is receiving a total of £2.86m of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Under the Communities & Place strand, several projects have been selected for which the additional funding will expand their impact:

• Hainault Forest Restoration and Volunteering: UKSPF has helped fund the completion of the restoration of Hainault Forest, which includes the improvement of the changing places facility to accommodate disabled visitors as well as fitout for the café facility. UKSPF also provides additional funding for the volunteer programme run by Vision at Hainault Forest throughout 2023-2024.
• “Go Green” grants programme: UKSPF funding will benefit homeowners and landlords and their tenants by funding interventions to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and possibly reducing energy costs. Grants up to £4,500 are available to improve properties with low-cost measures including loft and underfloor insulation, smart meters, hot water tank replacement, and other eligible measures. More information and to apply here. 
• Hainault Interim Community Hub & Community Leadership Programme: UKSPF funding enables the piloting of new social and community activities at the Hainault Library, delivered by the Hainault Forest Community Association. A new cross-borough community leadership programme, delivered by Koreo, has started in January 2024 and gives residents the opportunity to learn leadership skills and deliver community-focused activities and events. 

• A new Business & Enterprise Hub: UKSPF funding will help establish the borough’s first Business & Enterprise Hub at Queen Victoria House, Barkingside. Funding will provide the resources to develop the operating model for the hub and support the refurbishment works required. The Hub will improve access to affordable workspace for start-up and micro business in the Borough, as well provide a go-to location for those seeking support for their business. 

• Greening on High Streets: UKSPF funding funds the redistribution and maintenance of the planters from Wilderness Street to new locations across llford Town Centre, as well as the maintenance of planters in Seven Kings and Barkingside town until Spring 2025. Businesses and residents that are interested in adopting a planter can find more information here.

 Funding under the Business Support strand funds the Council’s Business Advice & Support Programme, whilst the People & Skills strand supports the Council’s Work Redbridge service.

For more information on UKSPF, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.