UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Open Call for Applications to the Valleys and Villages Prosperity Fund (VVPF)

Information about the fund

Neath Port Talbot Council would like to invite funding applications for its Valleys and Villages Prosperity Fund.

This capital funding, made available through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund is aimed at:

• land owners
• commercial property owners
• town councils
• social businesses

to support projects in Neath Port Talbot’s rural communities that directly address a local need.

This will help towards the UK Government’s goal of levelling up all of the UK, bringing pride of place to as many areas as possible and increase life chances across the UK.

Priority will be given to projects that create sustainable growth in our rural communities and enhance our valleys and villages areas as places to live, visit and work.

Available funding

• Total grant funding available: £1.7m
• Maximum grant award is £250,000: Up to 70% of your total project cost

Targeted locations

• Neath Valley
• Afan Valley
• Swansea Valley
• Upper Amman Valley
• Dulais Valley

All projects will need to address priorities and meet targets related to:

• job creation
• health and well-being
• pride of place
• economic growth

Eligible projects

Examples of the type of eligible activities that may be considered for funding are:

• commercial property grants
• residential units (conversion from commercial to housing)
• green infrastructure and biodiversity projects
• public realm improvement projects
• strategic acquisitions
• town centre markets
• shop frontage schemes
• digital towns
• active travel
• leisure and recreational facilities

Project examples

• capital funding for improvements to vacant commercial premises within valleys and villages, including better accessibility for disabled people
• capital funding for new, or improvements to existing community and neighbourhood infrastructure projects including those that increase communities’ resilience to natural hazards, such as flooding, and investment in locally owned renewable energy generation and waste management to improve the transition to low carbon living
• creation of and improvements to local green spaces, community gardens, watercourses and embankments, along with incorporating natural features and biodiversity improvements into wider public space
• support for active travel enhancement and other small-scale green transport infrastructure projects, having regard to the Wales Transport Strategy
• funding for local sports facilities and other public amenities such as toilets to further support community growth
• investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups
• investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities
• support the set-up of valleys and villages markets and pop-up commercial units

Applicant information

To find out more about the funding or to discuss a project idea, please contact: