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Welcome to the latest edition of the SVBS newsletter.
This week, we're focusing on our Rural England Prosperity Funding grant scheme, where the deadline for applications is rapidly approaching. Organisations only have until midday on Friday 24 November to apply for funding.
Additionally, the Chancellor has today (22 November) outlined the Autumn Statement 2023. You can read the full statement on the Government's website.
We're also highlighting our sustainability survey for businesses, shopping locally this festive season, Sovereign Network Group's Thriving Communities Fund, a new competition to help decarbonise local transport, the Didcot Open Doors event and ROBIN's Christmas Drinks.
There are lots more opportunities, events and resources to get stuck into this week, but as always, if you'd like to suggest content for the SVBS newsletter, please get in touch with us.
- Team SVBS
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Whether you're seeking funding for solar panels or EV chargers, or you're looking to make changes to your rural organisation, the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grant scheme is here to help.
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You'll need to be quick, as the scheme closes for applications at midday on Friday 24 November.
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The scheme provides capital funding for businesses and organisations in rural areas of South and Vale.
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)
Who can apply?
- Town and Parish Councils
- Public sector organisations
- Higher and further education institutions
- Rural businesses
- Registered charities
- Constituted community-based organisations
- Social enterprises (like CICs)
- Arms-length bodies of Government
Please note that to be eligible for REPF funding, a business or organisation must be located within an eligible rural, area as defined by Magic Maps. Almost all areas in South and Vale are included (excluding areas of Abingdon, Culham, and Shippon), but if you would like to check if your project is in an eligible area before applying, please contact us.
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)
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We encourage interested organisations to apply as quickly as possible, as the scheme closes for applications at midday on Friday 24 November 2023.
Before applying, please read the supporting documentation carefully on our South and Vale websites. This contains a list of the documents you will need to apply. If you need support or advice with your application, please contact us. Please ensure you apply to the correct council's scheme. Applying to the wrong scheme will result in your application being automatically rejected.
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We have not yet received many applications for our Vale scheme. We strongly encourage applications from organisations based in the district, as those applying may stand a stronger chance of being funded if low application numbers persist.
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Would you like your business to become more sustainable, but you're not sure how to get started? Perhaps you're already making changes, but want to know if you can do more?South and Vale have partnered with Oxford Brookes Business School to put together a survey, to help build our understanding of the challenges faced by local SMEs in becoming more environmentally sustainable. Funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), this survey will lead to creation of a programme of decarbonisation and sustainability support for businesses in our districts. This work will also help us to support businesses with the current cost of energy crisis, establishing support to help improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
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More informationThe survey focuses on sustainability, seeking to establish the starting position of local SMEs, including actions already taken towards becoming more sustainable, challenges being faced, and aspirations towards sustainability. The wider research study will examine the range of existing local and national support programmes, resources and tools, to help us ensure we support the most impactful options for local businesses. Why should I complete the survey?The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete. Your feedback is vital for us to put in place the right level and type of business support to help your business grow sustainably. Please take part in the survey to help inform how we can support your business.
The survey will close for responses at the end of January 2024. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us via business.support@southandvale.gov.uk.
UKSPF
This work is being funded by South and Vale’s allocations from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). More information can be found via our UKSPF pages below:
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Shop local this Black Friday and Christmas
Many small businesses in our districts will struggle with the cost-of-living crisis this winter, and every sale makes a difference.
In the lead up to Black Friday and Christmas, independent businesses based in South and Vale need our support. Below are some of the benefits to shopping locally:
- It's great for the environment - products made locally and eco-friendly gifts have a lower carbon footprint and you can travel fewer miles to collect them
- Helps to grow the local economy
- Boosts job growth in your community
- You'll find one-off products that aren't available on Amazon
- Local shopkeepers are great at giving advice, are passionate about what they sell and pride themselves on the service you receive
This festive season, shop locally in our South and Vale towns - Abingdon, Botley, Didcot, Faringdon, Henley, Wallingford, Wantage and Thame - and support our independent businesses.
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Sovereign Network Group: Thriving Communities Fund
If your project delivers social action and is helping people to thrive, you could apply for the Thriving Communities Fund.
Sovereign Network Group’s Thriving Communities Fund is aimed at supporting not-for-profit groups and organisations that can clearly demonstrate how their services and projects help deliver cohesive, sustainable and resilient communities.
You need a crowdfunding project to apply for funding. If your application is approved, you’ll be offered match funding of up to 50% towards your initial crowdfunding target, up to a maximum of £10,000.
To be eligible to apply, organisations must be:
- Local not-for-profit groups
- Community organisations
- Registered charities
Find further information and apply via the Crowdfunder website.
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New £2 million competition launched to help decarbonise local transport
A new £2 million competition has launched to encourage businesses and local authorities to work together to develop and trial transport schemes that cut emissions in the long term. Any UK business can apply for up to £500,000 to run innovative trials that tackle local transport challenges on the ground. The scheme will open for applications on Monday 27 November 2023 and will close on Monday 8 January 2024 at 11am. If you have ideas for a project, please get in touch with us.Your project must:
- Start on 1 June 2024
- End by 31 March 2025
- Last between 6 to 10 months
- Carry out all of its project work in the UK
- Intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
- Involve a minimum of two collaborative grant claiming partners
Further information can be found on the Government's website.
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Didcot Open Doors event
The Didcot Powerhouse Fund, Makespace Oxford and Soha Housing are coming together to showcase available community spaces in Didcot.
Wednesday 29 November | 6pm - 8:30pm
Soha Housing
Come along for an opportunity to network and see the community spaces available at the Soha Housing building.
Elizabeth Paris, the Chair of Didcot Powerhouse Fund and Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire, will speak about the fund and community organisations improving local lives. Makespace Oxford will share their approach to reviving vacant spaces for organisations and individuals delivering positive social impact in their communities, and Soha Housing representatives will be on hand to talk about creating a great space for the benefit of the community.
A buffet and refreshments will be available on arrival.
Register for the event via the Makespace Oxford website.
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Come along to ROBIN's Christmas DrinksROBIN's annual Christmas Drinks event is back for 2023, taking place at Tap Social Movement Taproom in Botley. Wednesday 13 December | 4:30pm - 8pmROBIN (Responsible Oxfordshire Business Involvement Network) facilitates lots of introductions, powerful collaborations and partnerships. Come along to the Christmas Drinks event to mingle with ROBIN's growing network of around 1,300 people from businesses, charities, social enterprise, voluntary groups and educational institutions. Register for your free place via Eventbrite.
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