2025/26 Rochford District UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Event Grants Programme
This grant programme was open for applications between 19 May and 23 June 2025. The aim of the programme is to support delivery of events running between 1 August 2025 and 31 March 2026.
This programme is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Scheme and the District Council has commissioned this under the ‘Thriving Places’ theme.
Rochford District Council has now awarded more than £44,000 in funding to support a range of local initiatives that celebrate and enhance arts, culture and heritage across the district. Grants ranging from £6,500 to £20,000 have been awarded to community-led events and programmes designed to enhance cultural experiences and boost the local visitor economy. All fund awardees:
- The Cultural Engine – Orchard Events 2025: A creative programme including a Batik Flags parade, a Creative Harvest celebration and a Nature Writing event.
- The Design Cabin Community CIC – Cultural Spark: A season of over 20 creative events hosted at The Freight House.
- Essex Cultural Diversity Project (ECDP) – Global Village Rochford: A multicultural programme with workshops and events for all ages to be delivered at The Freight House.
Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley Shopfront Improvement Grant Scheme
Grants of up to £2k are available for shopfront and accessibility improvements. In this second round of funding, £24k will be distributed to qualifying town centre businesses in Rayleigh, Rochford and Hockley in 2025. The grant scheme will opened on Tuesday 1 July and closes at 5 pm on Tuesday 2 September 2025. This scheme is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
For more information and the online application form, please visit our Business Funding page.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-26
The UKSPF 2025-26 Transition Year will support UK Government Mission delivery with a specific focus on economic growth across the three priority areas of Communities & Place, Supporting Local Business and People & Skills.
The Fund’s mix of revenue and capital funding will ensure places deliver directly on the foremost Mission to kickstart economic growth.
The UKSPF 2025-26 aims to support activities from April 2025 to March 2026, including the continuation of some existing UKSPF activity where appropriate.
The Rochford District Council UKSPF allocation from April 2025 to March 2026 is £327,146.
The council will be delivering on the UKSPF ‘Thriving Places’ and ‘Support for Business’ themes.