An overview of the projects delivered via the Borough Council using UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) from 2022 to 2025
The Borough Council cabinet approved use of West Norfolk Prosperity Funding to support the delivery of the West Norfolk Investment Plan priorities during the period 2022 to 2025.
Investment priorities for UK Shared Prosperity Funding
Local Communities
Investing in physical, cultural and social infrastructure and communities to strengthen social fabric and local pride.
Local Businesses
Growing new businesses, creating jobs, supporting local sector strengths and boosting innovation.
People and Skills
Supporting skills provision and business skills needs.
What projects received UKSPF funding via the Borough Council from 2022-2025?
Supporting Communities and Place
The Love Your Town grant scheme developed in partnership with Norfolk County Council to grant fund projects which would increase activity in the town centres of Downham Market, Hunstanton and King’s Lynn. Funded schemes include:
- West Norfolk Food and Drink Festival (March 2024)
- Tower Street Summer of Sport Saturday (July 2024)
- Platform 30 - Open Air Film Nights (Julyto September 2024)
- Downham Market Gingerbread Trail (December 2024)
- An evening with Colin Bell (Downham Market, March 2025)
- Hanse Street Artwork Celebration (March 2025)
UKSPF investment into the Rail to River Art Trail forms part of a wider project creating a safe, vibrant, and attractive town centre, delivering public realm improvements along a key route from the rail station to the river and has supported the creation of artwork, the planting of trees and investment into the pop up units and provision of café style seating along Purfleet Street.
Small Grant Scheme (2023/24) provided investment for projects to enhance the character and vibrancy of town centres and high streets, grow innovation in the local arts, cultural, heritage and creative sector and to support and promote a sustainable, year-round visitor destination.
Projects included:
The Community Energy Saving Measures project provided advice and items to eligible households to improve energy saving, including hot water tank covers, radiator reflectors and draught excluder tape.
Community Support for West Norfolk provided funding towards the cost of running or establishing a Community Hot-Spot, providing warm community spaces for those who are vulnerable or have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
The West Norfolk Community Cycle Scheme provided low cost cycle hire hosted by Alive West Norfolk at Lynnsport supported by a programme of community cycling development events. Halloween Glow Ride.
The Alive Active Community Programme provides free community activity sessions to enhance residents’ health and wellbeing and is delivered across the borough by Alive West Norfolk. Alive Active Community (youtube.com)
Go Green Communities provided support, advice and grant opportunities for decarbonisation and green energy options for village halls, community buildings, and sports halls in West Norfolk, supporting community groups to make energy efficiency and environmental improvements to community buildings and reduce their carbon footprint. This scheme was delivered by Community Action Norfolk on behalf of the Borough Council. Brancaster Village Hall’s Journey to Energy Efficiency
The St George’s Guildhall Activity Programme has established a successful series of learning and engagement events linked to, and supporting, the restoration of the St George’s Guildhall which is being delivered through the King’s Lynn Town Deal. St George's Guildhall case study
Investment into the St George's Guildhall and Creative Hub Capital Project.
Restoring West Norfolk’s Peatlands for All - work to help restore three of West Norfolk’s most important remaining peatlands (Roydon Common, Tony Hallett Memorial Reserve, East Winch Common), build a team of Peatland Champions to contribute to the ongoing management and monitoring of these sites, and enthuse others in the local community to better understand and contribute to managing their local peatlands.
Investment into the new Discover King’s Lynn App.
Hunstanton Observatory Events - four weekends of events held at the Hunstanton Observatory Spring 2024.
Town Centre Visual and Signage Improvements - investment to improve the West Lynn Pavilion and Downham Market Town Centre tourism information signage.
West Norfolk Tourism Ambassador Programme - as a certificated online course including training videos with an emphasis on local stories/ heritage /history/ natural environment. See the Visit West Norfolk for more information (coming soon).
Historic Buildings light projection and pa equipment investment to enhance borough wide events provision.
Investment into the Cultural and Heritage Strategy for King’s Lynn.
Business Support
Go Digital West Norfolk - Provides free digital support for small and medium sized businesses to help businesses to improve use of digital tools, identify digital business opportunities and help businesses to grow. Small grants are also available to help implement a digital action plan. View the Tatty's Original Go Digital case study.
The Place - Pop Up Shop and Business Hub - Provided affordable pop-up space in King’s Lynn for developing businesses to test markets and receive business support, the provision of hot desk and meeting facilities, cultural activities and a one stop shop for multi-agency provision. The Place is currently closed.
New Anglia Growth Hub - A service provided by Norfolk County Council incorporating a team of business advisors who provide a ‘one stop shop’ to support and advise West Norfolk businesses. Whether you’re looking to enhance your digital skills, access business grants, or expand your professional network, the Growth Hub can help.
West Norfolk Training Grants - This scheme provided 70% funding to help businesses upskill their employees, improve employee engagement, resilience, and productivity, and to support staff retention. 21 grants were paid to enable 84 employees to access work related training thereby supporting business progression.
Supporting Skills
Across West Norfolk UKSPF was invested into the delivery of five key people and skills projects for 2024-25. More details for each project are listed below but you can also find out more about how the projects have worked together to enhance the skills landscape for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk on on the UKSPF People & Skills - Five Projects Review page on the VENI website.
BOOST - Provides individual support for NEET 16-30 year olds across West Norfolk. Tailored to the persons situation, BOOST can offer a range of opportunities to support young people, providing employability support, basic skills, training, and mentoring.
The Matthew Project (On Track) - provides a free service that supports 16-24-year-olds to move closer to or get into education, training, employment or volunteering. On Track supports young people through 1:1 motivational coaching to develop their social and employability skill set and group-based enrichment sessions which support vulnerable young people to develop vital work skills and build community with their peers.
Tech Skills for Life - Community Tech Coaches to help community to access laptops, tablets and internet data, and give advice about affordable broadband. Also teach skills that will make technology easier to use and give the confidence to use the internet safely.
Visitor Economy Network Initiative - VENI aims to inspire young people, those outside the labour market as well as people already in the workforce. VENI is about building people’s confidence to find a job in the visitor economy which is made up of many sectors – all providing services to and for visitors. VENI runs short courses that act as a springboard towards a future career. In particular we try to inspire people to take pride in their local environment - to become VENI ambassadors for their local town.
Volunteer it Yourself - The VIY delivery model involves young people (aged 16+ and economically inactive/NEET) developing new vocational trade and construction skills, and improving their broader employability skills, whilst helping to refurbish and retrofit local community facilities.