The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The bid to bring the remains of Matthew Flinders home, plus two projects for Spalding, are among those to benefit from the latest round of community funding.
All three have been awarded grants as part of the UK Prosperity Shared Fund.
How much each gets has not been revealed, but the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, of which South Holland is a member alongside Boston and East Lindsey, says £1.2million is being spent in its area on 15 projects.
On the Matthew Flinders: Bring Him Home project, created after his remains were discovered in London in 2019, the partnership states it is: “To promote and progress returning the remains of Matthew Flinders to Donington – the place of his birth – for appropriate celebration and reburial.
“This will be supported by a programme of events promoting links between South and East Lincolnshire and Australia, with a focus on trade and the visitor economy.”
It’s set to take place in July next year.
The other projects are South Holland: The Land We Forgot described as “a creative, arts and digital research project with local school-age pupils in South Holland, encouraging them to explore their area’s local culture and history, resulting in the production of a series of creative pieces.”
Funding has also been secured for the Spalding Brass Plaque Trail which expands on an existing trail and has already been mostly delivered with significant match funding from the Arts Council.
Additionally, parishes will receive nearly £1.3million, the first share of which is being distributed in this round of funding to parish councils, village halls and small community groups which have already shown a high demand for grants.
This announcement follows two previous rounds of funding which were distributed to projects including the Long Sutton Youth Shed, Holbeach Medieval Festival and The Old Bolingbroke Gas House.
Coun Paul Redgate, portfolio holder for finance, commercialisation, Levelling Up and UK Shared Prosperity Funding at South Holland District Council, said: “It’s great that we are able to continue supporting important projects across South Holland with this vital funding.
“We have already seen several successes with this funding throughout the district, including the very well attended Holbeach Medieval Festival and the busy Long Sutton Youth Shed which is thriving.
“This funding will continue play a huge part in boosting our economy and pride in all parts of our district, while supporting our communities, culture and heritage.”
