21 April 2021
Applications are now being invited for the Community Renewal Fund – Somerset. This is a new funding opportunity, launched by the Government in the Budget in March.
The funding runs for one year and is intended to pave the way to the Shared Prosperity Fund due to be launched in 2022.
Somerset has the chance to bid for up to £12m of funding. Somerset County Council is the lead authority for Somerset and will be responsible for inviting, assessing, prioritising and submitting bids to Government.
Applications are invited from partners (including, but not limited to, businesses, voluntary and community groups, education and training providers, and district councils) for bids which must be submitted to Government by June 18, 2021. Project proposals must be submitted to Somerset County Council by 10am on May 10, 2021.
The Fund aims to support people and communities across the UK most in need to pilot programmes and new approaches, and will invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.
Projects – in both urban and rural areas – should align with four identified themes:
- Investment in skills
- Investment in local business
- Investment in communities and place
- Supporting people into employment
The funding is short-term with projects needing to be delivered by March 2022.
A range of resources, including a recorded information event and presentations from workshops, application process are available on the dedicated Somerset County Council Community Renewal Fund webpage – this will be updated regularly.
Meanwhile, Somerset’s five local authorities are jointly undertaking a vital survey to help them better understand and respond to local business needs, with a particular focus on the impacts that COVID-19 will have had on many businesses over the last 12 months.
By completing the survey, businesses will be providing much needed intelligence to help shape the authorities’ approach to economic recovery in Somerset, including the support that businesses will be able to receive.
Anyone providing their details at the end of the survey will receive a copy of the findings of the survey in due course. The councils may also be able to offer specific advice and support based on the responses each businesses gives.
The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Personal data will not be shared with anyone outside of Somerset’s local authorities and all results will be reported anonymously.
To complete the survey, please click on the following link: Somerset Business Recovery Survey 2021
Anyone with questions about the survey or who would like to provide additional feedback, please email somerseteconomicdevelopment@somerset.gov.uk.
