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 their wellbeing.
The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and places and supporting local businesses, people and skills
The Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) approved to invest their three-year UK Shared Prosperity Funds (UKSPF) in four projects within their ‘Communities and Place’ objective.
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.”
The funding will be used towards the following projects:
- £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 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.
