West Norfolk Council approves use of £600,773 from Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund

West Norfolk Council has agreed on investment to continue projects supporting residents and job skills, businesses, and communities into 2025/26.

The authority’s cabinet has approved use of West Norfolk’s allocation of £600,773 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to support priority projects that align with the West Norfolk Economic Strategy and Government ‘Missions’.

The West Norfolk Economic Strategy recognises that “a vibrant economy encompasses not only economic growth but also the wellbeing of residents and communities, and the sustainability of towns, places and the natural environment”.

Projects to be supported under the UKSPF in 2025/26 include BOOST, first established via Lynn Town Deal funding and continued through UKSPF investment.

This supports young people across the borough who face significant barriers not only to employment but challenges relating to skills and mental health.

BOOST interventions have resulted in young people achieving industry-specific qualifications, vocational training, basic skills, life skills and securing sustainable employment.

The project has also created closer collaborations with local and national employers, created a coordinated function for skills provision and brought over 20 new training courses to the area.

Projects receiving UKSPF funding in 2025/26 and their lead organisations:

• BOOST – Norfolk County Council

• St George's Guildhall activity programme – borough council

• Volunteer it Yourself – Volunteer it Yourself CIC

• New Anglia Growth Hub – county council

• Heritage Volunteering Collective – borough council

• Visitor Economy Network Initiative (VENI) – Eastern Education Group

• On Track King’s Lynn and West Norfolk – The Matthew Project

• Light Projection Programme – borough council

• Active Community Programme – Alive West Norfolk (borough council)

In addition, the borough council cabinet agreed capital investment to support a proposed ‘Thriving Towns’ funding bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, working in partnership with Hunstanton Town Council and Downham Town Council.

If the bid is successful, this would enable a heritage-led scheme including community capacity building, heritage restoration and engagement, supported by an activities programme and a grants scheme for heritage improvements.

The proposed project seeks to support the opportunities identified by stakeholders, residents and businesses during a consultation during the development of the Economic Strategy last year.

Cllr Simon Ring, deputy council leader and cabinet member for business and culture, said: “This investment programme provides assured funding to continue, for a further year, those existing priority projects such as BOOST that are already delivering well against local and national priorities, making a real difference for our residents, businesses and places.

“The Government has advised that this UKSPF ‘extension year’ will provide a smooth transition from their existing UKSPF programme to a new, future funding framework.

“While King’s Lynn’s share is reduced this year, we have still managed to maintain an impactful programme which continues to benefit local people and job skills, local businesses and communities into 2025/26.”

This decision by cabinet is subject to call-in.