Over £1.5 million of funding has supported projects and initiatives to strengthen local communities and support the borough’s economy.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council received £1.3 million from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £560,000 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund to support economic growth, enhance pride in place and reduce inequality.

To ensure this funding directly benefited communities across the borough, the council launched a number of grant funding schemes to support community and voluntary organisations and businesses.

Using funding received from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the council supported initiatives to help residents with the cost of living, enabled community and voluntary groups to improve facilities and enhanced services for residents. Other projects included helping people into employment and support for arts and cultural projects to increase participation, showcase local heritage and inspire the next generation of creatives.

Successful projects included a grant for Outcome Home to recruit and train volunteers to deliver early interventions to support individuals at risk of homelessness and funding to help Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Community Association to support young adults with learning difficulties and autism to take the next steps into employment.

Targeted support for businesses included schemes to support apprenticeships, upskill staff and help micro businesses and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest in innovative technology to support business growth. High street businesses in town and village centres across the borough were also helped to upgrade shop fronts, carry out internal fit out work and create outdoor seating areas.

Funding has also supported the creation of a pop-up business incubator, working with IncuHive. Located in Basing View, the incubator provides support and guidance for entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Using Rural England Prosperity funding, the council provided grants to support businesses and community organisations in rural parts of the borough to improve the experience for visitors or to diversify and adopt green technologies.

Businesses and organisations supported included Basingstoke’s Many Hats Brew Club who received funding to support its project for a new bar, café and event space, money for The Homemade Brownie Company Limited in Basingstoke to diversify its product range to support business growth and funding for English Rose Health and Beauty Company Limited to create a more welcoming front to their shop to support the vibrancy of the Top of The Town. Overton Parish Council, working with a group of volunteers from the village, also received funding to create new walking and cycling trails to celebrate Jane Austen’s connections to Overton, Steventon, Ashe and Deane as part of celebrations for the 250^th anniversary of the birth of the world-famous author.

Leader Cllr Paul Harvey said: “By giving this funding to community and voluntary organisations and businesses, we have helped deliver projects that truly matter to communities across the borough.

“From projects that tackle real challenges for our residents, such as the cost of living, to helping local businesses grow and develop for the future, these initiatives have created new opportunities and helped to strengthen our amazing communities for the future.”

For more information on how the council has allocated funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Funds, visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/ukspf-business-2024-25 and www.basingstoke.gov.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-fund