The Government Rural England Prosperity Fund is a new England-wide £110million two-year capital fund from DEFRA complementary to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund run by the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities. It is a top up for eligible authorities, such as Wealden District Council, which have already submitted an investment plan for UKSPF, to address the extra needs of rural areas. This funding has given Wealden District Council to deliver a number of projects including:
Wealden Community Infrastructure and Spaces Grants Programme 2024-2025
This grants programme is now closed.
We are pleased to announce that Wealden District Council is delivering the Community Infrastructure and Spaces capital grants programme.
Wealden District Council has allocated £121,259.90 towards the Community Infrastructure and Spaces Grants Programme and are asking Town and Parish Councils and not for profit organisations to apply for between £1,000 and £20,000 for projects that benefit the residents of the Wealden District.
The grants programme is now closed. For further information on projects funded through this programme, go to Wealden Community Infrastructure and Spaces Grants webpage.
Wealden Rural Business Grants Scheme
The grants programme is now open.
Rural businesses across Rother and Wealden can once again apply for funding through the Rother and Wealden Rural Business Grants Programme, which has relaunched with £380,000 in additional support from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).
This second round of funding offers capital grants of up to £35,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs, to help rural SMEs grow, diversify, and innovate.
The grant is designed to fund capital projects that will strengthen the rural economy. Examples of eligible expenditure include:
• Purchasing new machinery, tools or production equipment
• Farm diversification projects (excluding agricultural production)
• Refurbishing or extending business premises
• Creating or expanding rural tourism and leisure services
• Investing in green technologies or more sustainable operations
• Acquiring commercial vehicles linked to rural service delivery
This is a limited fund operating on a first come, first served basis. Once the pot is gone, it’s gone. All applications must be submitted by September 2025, and all projects must be completed and claimed by March 2026.
The scheme is being delivered by East Sussex County Council on behalf of the Council, for full details of project eligibility please view the Rural Business Grants Programme guidance and eligibility and email your interest and contact details to ruralbusinessgrants@eastsussex.gov.uk
Wealden Community Spaces Grants Programme Round One Projects Funded
The grants programme is now closed.
We are pleased to announce that Wealden District Council is delivering a new capital grants programme which will be able to support and enable partners to improve the natural environment such as ‘greening up’ of outside spaces and active travel initiatives. This includes improving local resilience against the impacts of climate change, accessing outdoors spaces and encouraging residents to walk and cycle more.
The council invited organisations such as Not for Profit Organisations and Town and Parish Councils to apply for grants between £1,000 and £5,000 for projects that will help benefit the residents of the Wealden district and improve/ enhance community green spaces. A total funding pot of £34,530 is available.
The grants programme is now closed. For further information on projects funded through this programme, go to REPF Wealden Community Spaces Projects webpage.
Future Plans for REPF
The REPF funds will also be supporting other projects across Wealden including the development of a visitor wine trail and installation of EV charging points.