Big financial boost for groups

A virtual church tour and a project to get young people into work are among the latest groups to get government funding.

South Holland District Council has announced where its allocation from central government for the UK Shared Prosperity and Rural Prosperity Funds (UKSPF/REPF) will go.
Along with East Lindsey and Boston Borough Council, members of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership have been given a combined £2m.
* The projects to benefit in South Holland are:
St. Mary’s Church, Whaplode: A pilot scheme creating a digital approach to exploring churches in South Holland.
Plans include the creation of a 360-degree virtual tour, QR-code led audio tour, training for volunteers and new digital welcome screens.
The Future of Food in the Lincolnshire Fens: This project focusses initiatives which support the development of agriculture, the natural environment and technology in Lincolnshire’s Food sector, and scoping innovative trial projects focussed on productivity, growth and sustainability. This will include sharing practice with local businesses to support them in increasing their growth and productivity.
Active Lincolnshire, Active Communities: This programme will deliver a place-based skills development programme aimed at upskilling local residents to work or volunteer in the sport and physical activity sector.
Tonic Health – Project Gen Z: Supporting a cohort of young people to increase their personal confidence and teach them a range of skills to improve employability, including a qualification at either NQF Level 1 or Level 2 in a business-related subject. Offering this group a guaranteed job interview with a named local employer.
Grants 4 Growth II (Additional Allocation): A further £150,000 is being allocated to Grants 4 Growth for distribution in grants to local businesses, to support job creation, growth in turnover and business development across the district.
* The projects receiving money which will operate in South Holland are:
LCVS Community Transport): Looking to develop and enhance community transport infrastructure across the entire sub-region, aiming to increase the number of journeys available and volunteers taking part.
Community-Based Digital Support Sessions): Using local venues across the partnership area to support residents in our districts (particularly in rural communities) to access digital services, go online and become digitally savvy, including supporting them to access key online services such as health providers and HMRC, as well as scam-awareness training.
PAB Languages – Global Entrepreneurs: This project will provide a structured programme supporting the development of entrepreneurship and upskilling employees of our larger businesses to engage with export and international markets, drawing participants from people in employment in food processing, logistics, social care and e-commerce.
Heritage Skills in South and East Lincolnshire: A Programme to encourage the development of traditional and ‘at risk’ heritage and craft skills, giving residents the opportunity to try their hand at skills like lime plastering, traditional joinery and thatching, as well as supporting them to explore future careers in the heritage construction sector.
Connect2Grow: A project focussed on reducing economic inactivity in Boston and South Holland, helping individuals who are economically inactive or in receipt of Universal Credit skills training and support, identifying suitable vacancies, providing job interviews and follow-on in-work support.
Higher Level Engineering Skills for South Lincolnshire’s Key Sectors: Working with local employers to build engagement, shape provision and strengthen local access to specialist higher level training in food and manufacturing engineering courses at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing. This will be supported by a programme providing insight into the sector for local school-aged learners, giving them experiences of and hopefully, an interest in working in our area’s vital agri-tech and food industries.
* There is also extra money allocated for South Holland projects as part of the Lincolnshire Community Foundation GRASSroots Fund which is for community projects.
Money is to be donated in South Holland to Whaplode Drove Badminton Club, Gedney Parish Council, Boxes of Hope and Whaplode Village Hall Committee.