Organisations invited to get involved in unlocking £5.3 million of funding for the Lancaster district

Lancaster City Council is inviting local organisations to become delivery partners and help shape a local Investment Plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The £2.6 billion fund is part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda and aims to improve livelihoods and spread opportunity and prosperity in all parts of the UK by targeting areas that need it most.

As responsible body for the funding, the council is starting to prepare an investment plan to secure a total of £5.3m for the Lancaster district over a three-year period.

Any organisation that’s interested in knowing more about becoming a delivery partner is being invited to attend one of three virtual focus groups taking place next week. They are taking place as follows:

• Supporting Local Business: Monday June 13, 3pm to 4.30pm
• Community & Place: Tuesday June 14, 2pm to 3.30pm
• People & Skills: Friday June 17, pm to 2.30pm

More information will be provided on the aims of the funding and how to submit a proposal. To register an interest in attending, email business.support@lancaster.gov.uk.

Councillor Caroline Jackson, Leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “In our commitment to supporting our local economy and creating rewarding opportunities for all our residents so they can feel safe and be proud of where they live, we are confident that this funding will help us achieve these goals.

“We look forward to working with our local people and organisations to come up with a robust investment plan which will enable residents to live healthy and enjoyable lives and create new opportunities for everyone.

“This funding is an unprecedented opportunity to bring together proposals that support business, skills training and research alongside ways to increase health and well-being through physical activity, arts and culture.

“We expect there to be a lot of interest from organisations some of whom may already be working with us and some terrific proposals for funding.  We are particularly interested in partnership proposals from organisations, especially those working alongside local business.

“A local stakeholder partnership group involving business, health and education will support the city council in its overall strategic planning and the robust decision-making at the end of the process.”

Any organisation that has legal status can participate and receive funding, including arms-length bodies of government if appropriate.

The deadline for submission of a UKSPF investment plan for the Lancaster district is August 1.

More information is available at www.lancaster.gov.uk/ukspf. 

Last updated: 10 June 2022