From an Arts Festival in Alton to walking routes around Horndean – our Rural Grants are supporting ambitious and far-reaching projects across the district with more than £300,000 of Government funding.
Part of our Grow Up! programme, the Rural Grants are aimed at invigorating our rural economy and developing tourism.
In total nine projects benefited from funding this year. Other projects to get backing were improvements to some of East Hampshire’s popular visitor attractions, including Birdworld and Queen Elizabeth Country Park, and upgrades to other community facilities.
Now in its second year, our Rural Grants prioritise projects that deliver the greatest economic, environmental and social benefits to the district.
The scheme makes up part of the council's wider Grow Up! programme which seeks to bring improvements to businesses and communities in rural East Hampshire.
In total the council received 19 applications and officers and councillors worked together to assess the bids and allocate the funds.
Cllr Rob Mocatta, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Prosperity, said: “The diversity of projects we have been able to help with this funding is truly impressive.
“We are helping some of the area's biggest visitor attractions as well as some of the smallest local schemes and we are supporting communities across the length and breadth of the district.
“The Rural Grants are funded by Government money secured for use in our district by EHDC officers through our Grow Up! programme.”
Grants awarded through the Rural Grant scheme in 2024
1. Alton Arts Festival, £29,587 - Audio visual and events equipment to facilitate quality arts events in Alton
2. Alton Town Council, £27,358 - All-weather, permanent canopy at Alton Public Gardens for community events
3. Beech Culture Hub, £35,367 - Audio visual equipment, new seating and tables for community events in Beech
4. Birdworld, £50,000 - Repaving key areas to improve accessibility to a key tourist attraction in East Hampshire
5. Cardiac Rehab Aircool and Outdoor Exercise Area, £50,000 - Installing air cooling units in two rooms to enable better use for exercise and hiring for external meetings and providing an improved exercise area for outdoor rehabilitation programmes
6. Horndean Green Trail, £35,000 - Noticeboards, map displays and sculptures at key locations along the new trail in Horndean
7. Passfield Community Events and Dining Project, £21,000 - New furniture and audio visual equipment
8. Queen Elizabeth Country Park Visitor Welfare, £22,000 - Modular building for showers and changing rooms
9. Sustainability Centre, £31,200 - Shepherds Hut to generate visitors to a key tourist attraction in East Hampshire
All about Grow Up!
Grow Up! is our ambitious programme of projects that will use Government money to invigorate the rural economy, re-connect people with the countryside and provide employment, education and volunteering opportunities to our residents.
It will support projects in growing, planting, education, skills, biodiversity, workshops, farm visits, and mental and physical wellbeing.
The Grow Up! programme is being funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which East Hampshire District Council has designated to help rural communities.
There are six main projects, of which the Rural Grants are one. The other five schemes are:
Rural Grow Up! hubs at Butser Ancient Farm
Working with Butser Ancient Farm we will help fund a new building on site that will transform the volunteering experience and offer traditional skills and rural crafts that will recall our inspirational history and heritage.
The Rural New Directions Employment Outreach
The Rural New Directions Outreach will help people currently out of work back into economic activity.
Rural Business Network
The Rural Business Network helps the council to bring together local rural businesses by providing advice, opportunities and funding to the local business community.
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme will improve skills and employment opportunities and support local businesses by offering work placements and apprenticeships
Grow Up! Community Fund
The Grow Up! Community Fund is for new projects that will support the community and deliver the Grow Up vision on a local level.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UKSPF
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund 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.