The money will allow 11 charities, voluntary groups and town and parish councils across Central Bedfordshire to invest in their facilities – improving access, reducing running costs, and creating better spaces for the benefit of their communities.

The grants are fully funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).

These projects will be completed between now and the end of December 2024 and they include: improvements to a well used public kitchen and toilets; extending a skatepark; refurbishing a British Legion Club; the renovation of sports courts; installing new play equipment; renovating a village hall driveway and repairing a multi-use games area.

Councillor Tracey Wye, Chair of the Local Partnership Group said:

This is an exciting opportunity for the projects which have been awarded a grant.

The application process received 58 bids which were assessed leaving 11 projects being selected on merit to receive a share of the £298,155 budget for 2024/25.

The UKSPF and REPF funding is limited, and we recognise the enormous effort all the applicants put into their bids.

However, the projects which were successful will have a big impact on local people and will go a long way to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Grant offers have been made to the following organisations and projects:

• Ampthill Baptist Church - Kitchen & Toilet Refurbishment Project (Phase 1 – Kitchen)
• Caldecote Playing Fields - Multi-use Games Area - Surface relay
• The Greensand Trust - Clophill Lakes Nature Reserve
• Flitwick Town Council - Extension to Flitwick Skatepark
• Royal British Legion Heath and Reach - British Legion Club Refurbishment 2024
• Stanbridge & Tilsworth Community Association - Sports Court Renovation
• King’s Church Flitwick - Enhanced community access project
• Toddington Parish Council - Toddington Village Green and Memorial Garden and Pond enhancements
• St Leonards Church Hall Heath & Reach - Village Hall Driveway Refurbishment
• Barton-le-Clay Parish Council - New Play Equipment for Arnold Recreation Ground

Discussions are still ongoing with one further project in the Biggleswade area with details to follow. All funding awards are subject to final checks and agreements being put in place.

Read more about UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).

Funding applicants and projects