UK Community Renewal Fund

Introduction

Plymouth City Council submitted a shortlist of five bids worth £2.9m to the UK Government in June 2021 for consideration for the Community Renewal Fund.

On 3 November 2021, the successful bids for the Community Renewal Fund were announced - the full list can be seen on the GOV.UK website.

Two Plymouth bids were successful – Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, and Stonehouse Union, with the overall award being £1.199m.

The end data for the project delivery has also been extended from March 2022 to June 2022.

Background

To help local areas prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the UK Government is providing funding in 2021/22 through the UK Community Renewal Fund. We are interested in bids that build on local insight and knowledge, and project proposals that align with long-term strategic plans for local growth, target people most in need and support community renewal. In addition, projects should show how they complement other national and local provision. A focus for this Fund is to support innovation and new ideas in these areas, investing in pilots that draw on local insights and which will help places to prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022.

Plymouth City Council has been designated as a lead authority by the UK Government. As a lead authority Plymouth City Council is responsible for:

• issuing this invitation
• receiving bids
• selecting the bids that will be sent to UK Government for consideration
• paying grants to successful projects and managing their performance

Full details of the role of lead authorities can be found in the UK Community Renewal Fund Prospectus.  

Shortlist

The UK Community Renewal Fund in Plymouth closed to applications on the 14 May. Nine bids were received, for a total of £6.3m funding. As Lead Authority, Plymouth City Council was allowed to put forward up to £3m of projects for consideration by UK Government. Following a technical appraisal process, five projects were shortlisted and sent to UK Government on 18 June. UK Government then confirmed on 3 November 2021 that two of these projects were successful:

• Project Name: Plymouth Sound National Marine Park
• Lead Applicant: Plymouth City Council
• Project Description: This application further enhances Plymouth’s trailblazer National Marine Park designation by delivering a programme of five key elements for the park:
  • Access through gateway Hubs
  • SME business and skills support
  • New “blue” businesses/products
  • Net Zero: Innovative waterfront decarbonisation
  • Public engagement and community development.
• Project Value: £643,260

• Project Name: Stonehouse Union
• Lead Applicant: Nudge Community Builders and Street Factory CIC
• Project Description: This project brings together different but complementary organisations working in a deprived area in Plymouth. It will provide:
  • Unique life-skills support and training for unemployed and far from the labour market beneficiaries
  • Work-skills training
  • Start-Up mentoring and support
  • Business support and workspace.
• Project Value: £527,528

Read the UK Community Renewal Fund Privacy Notice