Wychavon Rural Fund – Register interest by 14/08/23

The Wychavon Rural Fund is now open and encouraging applications for up to £25,000 from businesses and communities throughout rural Wychavon. They also welcome applications from organisations from outside Wychavon but delivering projects to benefit the rural parts of the district.

Register your interest for Round 1 by 14 August 2023.

What is the Wychavon Rural Fund?

The Wychavon Rural Fund is being delivered by Wychavon District Council. The aim of the fund is to facilitate businesses and communities to address issues and barriers to growth, particularly those associated with being in a rural area.

The funding comes from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund(opens in a new window).

Who can apply?

Any organisation with legal status can receive funding, including:

micro and small enterprises
voluntary organisations
registered charities
local authorities
public sector organisations
higher and further education institutions

Please note the Council cannot support projects that have received funding from other Defra schemes, including:

What types of projects does the fund support?

Wychavon District Council are looking to support new capital projects that bring something new to the business and/or community. They must represent good value for money. The Council cannot fund staff costs, general operating expenses or services you are legally required to provide.

Projects should meet one or more of the following priorities:

Supporting Rural Business (total grant pot £420,000)

Investment in micro and small rural businesses and farm diversifications to start up or grow (for example tourism or leisure facilities, food production equipment).
Funding for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation (for example co-working spaces, community enterprises).
Development and promotion (both trade and consumer) of the visitor economy (for example information boards, visitor centres, develop local tourist attractions or visitor experiences).

Supporting Rural Communities (total grant pot £670,000)

Capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups (for example community energy schemes, EV charging points).
Creation of and improvements to local rural green spaces (for example community gardens, green spaces).
Active travel enhancements in local areas (for example creation or upgrading of existing footpaths and cycle paths).
Improvements to town centres & high streets (for example shop improvements, lighting).
Community & neighbourhood infrastructure projects (for example community gardens, walking and cycling infrastructure).
Enhancing existing cultural, historic & heritage institutions offer (for example interpretation boards, arts venues).

Where should my project take place?

The project must be delivered in a rural area within the district of Wychavon (i.e. wards outside of Evesham, Pershore and Droitwich town centres). Please refer to the Wychavon Rural Map(opens in a new window) to check if your project is in a rural postcode.

How to use the map:

Click on the link to the Wychavon Rural Map(opens in a new window).
Type details of the project location in the search box and select the location from the drop down options.
Tick the box agreeing to the Terms and Conditions and press Continue.
Look at the box on the bottom right entitled Wychavon Rural Fund; this will tell you if the identified area is eligible for funding.

Note, you can also use the Map button at the top of the screen to show a wider area by selecting the Wychavon Rural Fund layer and zooming out.