South West
Pub is the Hub Adviser - tbc
Pub is the Hub has been working in the South West since 2006, and the Rural Development Programme for England may be able to support the development of pub-based community facilities in the South West. One of the aims of the programme is to provide support for the development of sustainable rural community enterprises to help improve access to services and opportunities in rural areas. This includes strengthening the provision of basic services in rural areas through small scale grants to support for development of infrastructure and services. This programme aims to ‘improve or maintain the living conditions and welfare of those living in rural areas and to increase the attractiveness of such areas through the provision of more and better basic services for the economy of the rural population.’ Beneficiaries include businesses and the key issue is whether the beneficiary is delivering a basic service for the community of the area. Eligible activities may include cultural and leisure activities, the development of community buildings, the development of community enterprises to provide key services, shop/ retail services, and support for ICT for community benefit.
Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall
£7.5 million funding is available to help the region’s rural community and social enterprises to boost local services. The fund, part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), has been set up by the South West RDA to enable community and social enterprises to play a major role in expanding or adding to the basic services they provide.
Funding is targeted in two ways. A grant to support projects from community and social enterprises for the improved delivery of, and access to, basic services, together with advice and support for community and social enterprises that deliver basic services in order to improve their overall viability.
Over the next three years, £2 million will be available annually to not-for-private-profit organisations such as registered charities, community businesses, social enterprises or co-operatives and parish councils to support a range of projects.
The grants should be used to directly support the provision and delivery of basic services in rural areas. These can range from key services such as access to child care, retail services or services provided for the benefit of the community.