Community farm project reaps £1m

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Plans for a community farm in East Hampshire have been backed by £1 million of Government money. 

The funding is a big boost to our ambitions to support the rural economy, bring communities together and help people connect to their local environment. 

Called Grow Up!, the project will improve welfare, social cohesion, economic development and a huge range of other priorities.  

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announced last week it had approved funding worth £1.02 million through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

We have also applied for a further fund of £490,000, this time from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

Cllr Richard Millard, EHDC Leader, said: “Grow Up! will include a series of bold and ambitious plans that will provide so many benefits to so many parts of our community. 

“This is a project unlike any other in the sheer breadth of opportunities it opens up, from welfare to economic development through to our environmental aspirations. 

“I am seriously excited by the possibilities the community farm offers us and I am delighted the Government has awarded us more than £1 million to help us get it off the ground. What a fantastic start to this incredible journey!” 

The emerging vision for Grow Up! is to provide places where local people can learn new skills, pursue apprenticeships and find work in the rural economy. 

It will create opportunities to improve people’s health and wellbeing and will help us look after our environment by promoting biodiversity and supporting our green ambitions. 

The funding will be phased over three years, delivering more services and opportunities on each year through a collaboration between EHDC and local experts, businesses and communities. 

East Hampshire District Council’s Cabinet will be discussing the project at its meeting today (Thursday 15 December). You can watch online

Find out more about the Community Farm

More info on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Find out more about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund