A Stamford Pop-Up will benefit from funding allocated from the South Kesteven Prosperity Fund, it has been announced today, 9 March 2023.

More than £37,000 is to be paid out to support community initiatives across South Kesteven through the South Kesteven Prosperity Fund.

Some of the biggest allocations from the Government's Levelling Up money go to Brudenell Playing Fields at Baston (£8,555), Uffington Cricket Club (£8,000), Swinstead Parish Council (£5,642) and Stamford Art Pop-Up (£6,353).

The projects were confirmed at a meeting of the Prosperity Fund Board, and community groups will need to show project plans, receipts and quotations for work to qualify.

More than £1 million is still available to allocate to local groups as long as they meet funding criteria for Building improvements; Green space and outdoor improvements; Culture, arts, and heritage initiatives. They should provide a public benefit, which could be targeted at a specific demographic, or the community as a whole.

Full details and an application form are online.

The Leader of South Kesteven District Council (SKDC), Cllr Kelham Cooke, said: "It is great to see the first of these grants, totalling £37,698, allocated to some very important and welcome community projects.

"The South Kesteven Prosperity Fund is part of South Kesteven's allocation from the Government to meet the need for community improvement anywhere across the 365 square miles of our district and I would urge groups to apply for their share right away.

"The Government has chosen SKDC to administer the fund, and we will then monitor and evaluate the projects to ensure the best value for money. All applications to the South Kesteven Prosperity Fund go through our cross-party UKSPF Board, which meets on a regular basis."

Brudenell Playing Fields Management Committee will use the money to replace fire doors at Baston Village Hall, which are in disrepair causing soaring heating costs at the hall, which is used by a range of village groups, including exercise classes, the WI, private parties and 'mum and tot' groups.

A safe play area for children will be built with the allocation to Uffington Cricket Club, in a move to attract more families to the only sports facility in the village.

Stamford Art Pop-up will build on last year's successful free community arts event, which involved collaboration with local artist Korp to feature 12 urban artists and muralists painting 'live'. The date for diaries is Sunday April 16th.

Deer-proof fences are needed at the Jubilee Orchard in Swinstead, to protect the 60 fruit trees there from deer. The orchard is a safe family environment in a countryside setting.

Friends of Deeping Library will receive £2,148 for a pop-up cinema to visit for a two-day film festival meeting the local need for cinema without having to travel. Deepings Community Library is being given £1,100 to run a History Heritage Day which 150 children from local schools will be invited to.

Grantham's Jubilee Church is in line for £3,750 to replace an old heater, without which community groups and language lessons would need to be cancelled in cold weather.

Loft insulation to reduce operating costs at Carlby Village Hall will be installed at a cost of £1,400. A ukulele concert is being planned for Deeping St James by Priory Church, at a cost of £500, and Grantham Rivercare is being awarded £250 towards litter picking equipment for their work along the Witham and surrounding areas.

Please note that all successful applicants should monitor and report data on a quarterly basis to SKDC until the end of UKSPF on March 31st, 2025.

There are no fixed deadlines for applications. Applications are considered on a rolling basis until the annual allocation of funding is committed.