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Open Call (NOW CLOSED)

Monmouthshire County Council is conducting an open call for expressions of interest for grant funding for the 2024-25 financial year. A maximum of £900,000 is available for projects that can help strengthen communities, build pride in place, and deliver economic benefit.

The maximum amount of funding available for a single project is £200,000.

Please use this form to submit an expression of interest to Monmouthshire County Council for UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant funding.

Who can apply?
  • Local Authority Services
  • Private Sector Organisations (to deliver projects, not to support business development)
  • Third Sector or Voluntary Sector Organisations
  • Higher Education Institutions
  • Further Education Colleges
  • Other Public Sectors.
What can be funded?

Projects that submit and expression of interest or application for funding will be expected to show:

  • the ability to meet UK Government criteria for the programme and deliver outcomes from the programme framework
  • alignment with local needs that will complement and not duplicate existing provision
  • significant local engagement with stakeholders and potential beneficiaries
  • They are able to deliver within the short timeframe for the programme
  • the experience and capability of the project sponsor
  • an ability to identify and manage risks effectively
  • value for money and that the project can’t be funded elsewhere
  • that UK Government subsidy control regulations can be complied with
  • that delivery will take account of equality duties, the Welsh language and environmental good practice
  • a contribution to meeting the strategic needs of the area as set out in the Community and Corporate Plan 2022-28 and other relevant strategies

Both capital and revenue expenditure can be applied for. Capital expenditure refers to funding used to get, build or upgrade physical assets. Revenue expenditure refers to ongoing organisational costs needed to run the project activities set out in an approved application. For example:

  • staff costs (including salary, national insurance, and pension)
  • project-related travel and subsistence
  • materials
  • marketing and publicity
  • training participant costs e.g. travel expenses, childcare
  • All UKSPF funding is paid in arrears on a quarterly basis and is based on actual expenditure incurred (up to the maximum amount awarded). Projects will be expected to submit financial transaction lists and project performance data on a quarterly basis.
  • Projects will need to make sure they work with SPF interventions, outputs, and outcomes for Wales (learn more below) and are targeting the ‘Intervention Areas for Monmouthshire’ outlined in the following section.

All UKSPF funding is paid in arrears on a quarterly basis and is based on actual expenditure incurred (up to the maximum amount awarded). Projects will be expected to submit financial transaction lists and project performance data on a quarterly basis.

Projects will need to make sure they work with SPF interventions, outputs, and outcomes for Wales (learn more below) and are targeting the ‘Intervention Areas for Monmouthshire’ outlined in the following section.

Intervention Areas for Monmouthshire

Expressions of interest are being sought from projects that can target the following interventions:

Community and Place

  • Funding for improvements to town centres and high streets, including better accessibility for disabled people (W1)
  • Community measures to reduce the cost of living, including through measures to improve energy efficiency, and combat fuel poverty and climate change (W13)

Supporting Local Business

  • Supporting Made Smarter Adoption: Providing tailored expert advice, matched grants and leadership training to enable manufacturing SMEs to adopt industrial digital technology solutions (W18)
  • Investing in enterprise infrastructure and employment/innovation site development projects (W22)
  • Investment in resilience infrastructure and nature based solutions that protect local businesses and community areas from natural hazards including flooding and coastal erosion (W33)

People and Skills

  • Green skills courses targeted around ensuring we have the skilled workforce to achieve the government’s net zero and wider environmental ambitions (W40)
  • Retraining and upskilling support for those in high carbon sectors, with a particular focus on transitioning to green, and Industry 4.0 and 5.0 jobs (W41)
How and when to apply

The open call for expressions of interested is being conducted in two phases.

Phase 1 – Initial Expression of Interest

Opens 5th September 2023 and closes 13th October 2023.

Outline proposals to include:

  • Details of the lead organisation, any partners, and primary contact
  • Activity/works to be delivered by the project
  • Intended outputs and outcomes
  • Financial request and what it will be spent on

Organisations who have adequately demonstrated they can meet the criteria shown in the ‘What can be funded?’ section will be invited to submit a final expression of interest.

Alternative formats can be requested from sharedprosperityfund@monmouthshire.gov.uk.

Guidance Document

All organisations submitting an expression of interest should first read the guidance document.