Rural England Prosperity Fund
If you’re based in South Oxfordshire, visit our South Oxfordshire District Council website.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have secured funding through the government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).
The fund supported the aims of the government’s Levelling Up White Paper and Future Farming Programme. The fund also supported capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure that help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.
REPF grant scheme
Our REPF grant scheme made funding available to help achieve aims set out in our Corporate Plan, including action on the climate emergency, and improving community and economic wellbeing.
This grant scheme closed for applications on midday on Friday 24 November 2023. Our grant funding panel will meet in February 2024 to discuss each project and whether we will be able to award funding.
Funding was split into the following three categories:
- Capital grants for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas
- Capital grants for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation
- Capital grants for investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups
The following organisations were able to apply for funding:
- Town and Parish Councils
- Public sector organisations
- Higher and further education institutions
- Private sector companies
- Registered charities
- Constituted community based organisations
- Social enterprises like CIC’s
- Arms-length bodies of government
To apply for this funding, organisations needed to provide evidence of need for the project, evidence they have considered the impact of the project on the councils’ climate agenda, and how the project will deliver against the scheme’s outputs and outcomes.
What can be funded?
Examples of projects include:
- Net-zero and sustainability infrastructure, including solar panels, EV chargers, air-source heat pumps and more
- Bike racks
- Creation and expansion of rural leisure and tourism businesses
- Diversification of farm buildings outside of agriculture
- Purchase of equipment for food processing and promotion
- Nature-based solutions that protect local businesses and community areas from natural hazards (such as flooding)
Required documentation
To apply for this funding, organisations needed to have the following documents to hand:
- Copy of bank statement no more than 3 months old
- A utility bill, bank statement, or other official correspondence in the organisations name showing the organisations postcode. This will be used to check that the organisation is in the REPF area on Magic Maps
- Two quotes for ALL project costs
- A budget breakdown for the project
- Evidence of secured match funding for the project
- Charites will need to provide their constitution
- Businesses must provide evidence they are trading
Organisations also needed:
- Copy of planning permission
- Evidence of property ownership
- Landlord’s permission for project
- Last financial years accounts
Important information
Please read our Grants Policy, Standard Conditions and Capital Expenditure documents for further information on the REPF grant scheme. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us via business.support@southandvale.gov.uk
To keep updated with news on this grant scheme and future grant funding opportunities, please subscribe to the South and Vale Business Support newsletter.
Contact us - Economic Development
Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
