Rural England Prosperity Fund
If you’re based in South Oxfordshire, visit our South Oxfordshire District Council website.
The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grant scheme is now closed for applications.
Scheme overview
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils had secured funding through the government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). The fund supported capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure that help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.
Funding was available to help achieve aims set out in our Corporate Plan, including action on the climate emergency, and improving community and economic wellbeing.
REPF offered up to £75,000 of capital funding for projects that help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities. Funding categories were:
- Capital grants for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas
- Capital grants for growing the local social economy and supporting innovation
- Capital grants for investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups
Important information – please read
Please read our Grants Policy, Standard Conditions and Capital Expenditure documents for further information on the REPF grant scheme.
Projects must have been located in an eligible area as defined through DEFRA’s Magic Maps. While most areas in South and Vale are included as eligible, there are notable exceptions in areas of Abingdon, Shippon and Culham.
The following organisations were able to apply for funding:
- Town and Parish Councils
- Public sector organisations
- Higher and further education institutions
- Private sector companies
- Registered charities
- Constituted community based organisations
- Social enterprises like CIC’s
- Arms-length bodies of government
Eligible projects
Examples of projects include:
- Net-zero and sustainability infrastructure, including solar panels, EV chargers, air-source heat pumps and more
- Bike racks
- Creation and expansion of rural leisure and tourism businesses
- Diversification of farm buildings outside of agriculture
- Purchase of equipment for food processing and promotion
- Nature-based solutions that protect local businesses and community areas from natural hazards (such as flooding)
Previous projects funded include:
- Aston Rowant Cricket Club – Net Zero Sports Pavilion
- Stanley and Pickford – Farm shop and productivity upgrade
- Thomley – Eco-Woodland Outdoor Adventure and Learning Centre, and Eco-Friendly Interactive Water Feature
- Down to Earth Café – Warm space meal storage
- Faringdon Town FC – Conversion to solar power
- Springhill Smart Greens UK – Conversion to solar power
- Tap Social – Bakery equipment upgrade
- Velocity Cycle Couriers – Storage equipment to support OxFarm to Fork project
Documents
We asked applicants to submit a significant amount of evidence up front as this helps to speed up our assessment process, giving us all the information we require to accurately assess applications, recommend decisions and award eligible projects.
- Documentation in the organisation’s name, showing the postcode
- Charites will need to provide their constitution
- Businesses must provide evidence they are trading
- Evidence of property ownership or landlord’s permission for project
- Planning permission, if applicable
- A copy of your organisation’s bank statements (no more than 3 months old)
- A budget breakdown for the project
- Quotes for your project costs
- Evidence of secured match funding for the project (if applicable)
- Evidence of how any remaining project costs will be funded
Keep up-to-date
To keep updated with news on future grant funding opportunities, please subscribe to the South and Vale Business Support newsletter.
Contact us - Economic Development
Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
