Prosperity for North Somerset’s rural areas

9:00am - 17 November 2023
View of countryside at Blagdon Lake

Rural businesses and community groups from across North Somerset are sharing a £180,000 funding pot for schemes to improve the lives of local people.

In total, 17 organisations are using the money - from our allocation of the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) - to develop new products and facilities that will benefit the local economy, and to develop new infrastructure.

This aims to address the challenges that rural areas face, such as lower productivity rates, limited connectivity and poorer access to key services. 

Areas of North Somerset with populations below 10,000 and towns of up to 30,000 which serve rural areas (such as Clevedon) could apply for the money.

The successful projects were each awarded between £3,000 and £30,000:

  • Banwell Parish Council - solar panels at the youth and community centre and scout hall
  • Brown Rock Woodland Project - infrastructure and accessibility improvements
  • Curzon Cinema and Arts, Clevedon - LED lights and digital sound infrastructure
  • Hewish and Puxton Village Hall - internet and projector facility
  • Long Ashton Community Association – village hall digital and LED upgrade
  • The Groundwork South Trust – toilet block refurbishment, Goblin Combe for a Sustainable Future 
  • The Woodland Warrior Programme – Bee Hive Project
  • Kindaco – equipment for vegan cheese business
  • Through the Looking Glass – shopfront improvements 
  • Mendip Activity Centre - new target sport zone, picnic area and storage
  • PGCC/Laurel House – all weather accessible BBQ lodge
  • Field Doctor – equipment for scale-up and new product development
  • Trethowans Dairy – new equipment for cheese presses
  • Hullabaloos Lemonade – production increase: scale-up soft drink business
  • Taylor Made Training – equipment storage and office for caving business
  • Giulio’s Boathouse – Giulio's Gelato: scale-up ice cream business
  • Maria’s Bridal Boutique - project upgrade: shop front improvements.

A second round of funding through the Rural England Prosperity Fund be announced in the spring.

Keep your eyes open for further updates or email business@n-somerset.gov.uk

Help to boost your bidding game

Community and voluntary groups can get help to boost their bidding game and be in with more chance of success.

This December there will be a second round of community grants funding, which voluntary, community and social enterprise groups can apply for.

To help these organisations succeed in their bids, Voluntary Action North Somerset is hosting workshops on the strategies of bid writing.

Find out more and book your space on the VANS website.