UKSPF Wakefield Community Growth and Development Scheme

Wakefield Council is pleased to launch the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Wakefield Community Growth and Development Scheme. Funding will support voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the Wakefield district and continues the UKSPF funding first made available in summer 2023.

About the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was a central part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda, with £2.6 billion allocated for local investment across the UK by March 2025. Funding focused on increasing pride in place and improving life chances by supporting community development, local businesses, and skills.

From July 2024, responsibility for the fund transferred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Looking ahead to 2025–26, MHCLG has set out five core missions: driving economic growth, expanding clean energy, creating safer communities, increasing opportunity, and strengthening the NHS.

This grant scheme supports the 'Communities and Place' priority within the UKSPF, with a focus on:

• improving health and wellbeing
• reducing crime and fear of crime
• bringing communities together and tackling homelessness

For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus and for more local, West Yorkshire information, please visit West Yorkshire Combined Authority UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Overview of the Fund

VCSE organisations can apply for grants to deliver volunteering and social action projects. These projects should increase volunteer opportunities and community events in Wakefield during the grant period.

Funding Details

• total grant fund: £350,000
• minimum grant: £5,000
• maximum grant: £30,000
• project period: 1 July 2025 to 28 February 2026
• event funding cap: £15,000 (higher amounts may be considered in exceptional cases)

Applicants can submit multiple applications, but each must be for a different project.

Match Funding

Grants can cover some or all project costs.

Eligibility

Applications are open to VCSE organisations that are:

• registered charities or charitable incorporated organisations
• unincorporated groups or associations
• incorporated not-for-profit organisations

Ineligible Costs

Grants cannot be used for:

• lobbying, entertaining, petitioning, or challenging decisions
• activities of a party political or exclusively religious nature
• VAT reclaimable from HMRC
• gifts or donations
• statutory fines or penalties
• activities that are a statutory duty or fully funded by other sources

Eligible Costs

Grants can cover:

• staff costs
• travel and volunteer expenses
• materials
• room hire
• marketing and publicity

For a full list of eligible and ineligible costs, please refer to the guidance notes.

How to Apply

Request an application form by emailing ukspfwakefieldlocalgrant@wakefield.gov.uk and quoting 'application form' in the subject header.

You can download the guidance notes. We recommend contacting our team to discuss your project idea before applying. Email us at ukspfwakefieldlocalgrant@wakefield.gov.uk or call Kam Kaur, UKSPF Grant Manager, on 07918 360960. We are hosting a 'How to Apply' webinar on 8 May at 10 am. Please contact us for joining instructions.

The application deadline is midnight on Sunday, 18 May 2025.

Note: We may close the fund early if we receive a high volume of applications. To avoid disappointment, apply as early as possible. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.

Subsidy Control

Grants awarded by the Council using UKSPF funds are considered subsidies. The Council has assessed the scheme against the relevant subsidy control principles and determined it to be compliant. Subsidy control number pending.

Important Funding Information

The availability of funds for this grant scheme is subject to final approval by WYCA. While every indication suggests that the funding will be approved, we have launched the scheme early to give applicants more time to apply and, if successful, to deliver projects. We will provide an update on our website as soon as the outcome is confirmed.