More than £825,000 has been allocated to 56 projects across Medway to make a difference in our local communities.

Medway Council has allocated the money as part of Year 3 of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to support initiatives that foster and develop pride in place across Medway. The council will be supporting projects that focus on the enhancement of local community infrastructure, support the growth of local community groups, aid the development of projects that encourage visitors to the area, and target the improvement of training, skills and employment opportunities in Medway.

In 2022, the government announced a c.£1.8m allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Funding for Medway, to be delivered across a three-year period. Medway Council has utilised the allocation to invest and deliver in three key priority areas – community and place, supporting businesses, and people and skills.

Through UKSPF Year 1 and 2, £455,000 was allocated to 43 projects across Medway, including the Chinese New Year Festival, Medway Light Nights, the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Consortium and the Intra Lateral Arts Festival.

UKSPF Year 3 is set to be the most exciting year of the programme, with the largest amount of funding being allocated to projects since the programme’s inception. In UKSPF Year 3, funding was allocated across three separate funds – the Pride in Place Fund, the Feasibility Fund and the People and Skills Fund.

After an extensive assessment process, over £680,000 was allocated to 46 projects under the UKSPF Pride in Place Fund and the Feasibility Fund, and a further £145,000 was allocated to 10 projects under the People and Skills Fund.

Two examples of projects that have received funding in UKSPF Year 3 are Electric Medway’s 'Young Hack' programme, which helps young people develop entry-level skills in creative technology, and Funny Women’s ‘Comedy in the Community’ initiative. Both of these hugely impactful and exceptionally well-received programmes have built on the successful foundation they established as programmes supported during UKSPF Year 2, and have continued to grow their projects with ambitious and expansive ideas.

A positive influence across Medway

Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to be able to award the UKSPF funding to so many fantastic initiatives. So many brilliant projects have benefited from this funding over the last three years, and I am really excited to see the positive influence these initiatives are having across the wider Medway community.”

The UKSPF aims to improve pride in place and increase opportunities for all across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local businesses, and improving training, skills and employment opportunities.

Find out more.