The Grants Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss and make recommendations on funding applications to the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). South Cambridgeshire District Council has been allocated £350,376 from the fund for the 2025/26 transition year, to be invested in a capital grant scheme open to businesses and community groups. The committee was expected to review applications detailed in the report pack and make recommendations to the Lead Cabinet Member for Resources.

Rural England Prosperity Fund Applications

The Grants Advisory Committee were scheduled to review 21 applications for funding from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

The report pack summarised the purpose of the fund:

The fund aims to provide support and investment into rural areas to strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

Applicants could apply for between £10,000 and £50,000 for projects delivering on business or community interventions. Business interventions included funding for small scale enterprises, start-ups, or growing the local social economy. Community interventions included digital infrastructure, local green spaces, and rural circular economy projects.

The report pack contained a table summarising the applications that were scheduled to be discussed:

Wysing Arts Centre - £47,696

Wysing Arts Centre, located near Bourn, is an arts hub offering studios, public spaces, and residencies for artists. They requested funding to enhance visitor trails and infrastructure, improve accessibility for disabled visitors, and install air source heat pumps to reduce carbon emissions. The project aims to improve access to the centre's 11-acre site, biodiversity, and cultural facilities. The total project cost is £86,696, with a recommendation to fund £23,848.

Councillor Henry Batchelor, Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, and Councillor Tumi Hawkins both wrote letters supporting the application.

Orwell Parish Council Community Hub – £49,500

Orwell Parish Council requested £49,500 to redevelop and repurpose their 50-year-old pavilion into a vibrant community hub. The project aims to reignite community cohesion, provide resources for community activities, increase participation in community events, and improve accessibility to the pavilion. The total cost of the project is £163,259, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Sweetie Factory – £22,500

Sweetie Factory, a food business in Dry Drayton, requested £22,500 to convert an agricultural storage unit into a fully compliant, food-grade production facility. The project aims to increase production capacity, expand into new product ranges, and support other micro-businesses by providing access to shared kitchen facilities. The total cost of the project is £22,500, with a recommendation to fund £11,250.

Councillors Richard Stobart and Corinne Garvie both wrote letters supporting the application.

Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership – £25,000

Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership requested £25,000 for the Cam Valley Gateway project, which aims to unlock the tourism potential of rural South Cambridgeshire by promoting sustainable travel and dispersing visitor pressure from Cambridge city centre. The project includes designing and installing 'Welcome Information Boards' at six railway stations, creating leaflets and digital assets, and promoting the Cam Valley as a tourism destination. The total cost of the project is £25,019.18, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Councillors Jose Hales, Peter Fane, and Sally Ann Hart all wrote letters supporting the application.

Whittlesford Parish Council – £25,000

Whittlesford Parish Council requested £25,000 to improve connectivity between Whittlesford and Sawston by resurfacing Footpath 257/2. The project aims to improve access to local NHS and education services, promote active travel, and improve access to employment sites and shops. The total cost of the project is £25,000, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Councillor Richard Williams wrote a letter supporting the application.

CryptX Escape Rooms – £17,000

CryptX Escape Rooms, located on the Glebe Farm campus near Knapwell, requested £17,000 to invest in new Christmas games, refurbish waiting areas, implement accessibility improvements, and expand beyond the venue through community-focused projects. The project aims to deliver high-quality, local entertainment, improve accessibility, and create a welcoming environment for all visitors. The total cost of the project is £17,000, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Councillors Peter Sandford and Mark Howell both wrote letters supporting the application.

Willow Grange Farm – £50,000

Willow Grange Farm requested £50,000 to expand their farm shop with an on-site deli and butchery, allowing them to process and retail rare-breed, organic, grass-fed Hereford beef alongside other local produce. The project aims to support rural business growth, strengthen the local food economy, encourage farm diversification, enhance the rural visitor economy, promote environmental sustainability, and improve business resilience and productivity. The total cost of the project is £120,000, with a recommendation to fund £25,000.

Meldreth Bowls Club – £25,000

Meldreth Bowls Club requested £25,000 to renovate their existing changing rooms and WC accommodation to incorporate a disabled WC and a baby change area. The project aims to improve accessibility and inclusivity at the club. The total cost of the project is £25,000, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Councillor SallyAnn Hart wrote a letter supporting the application.

Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce – £12,540

The Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce requested £12,540 to create a new, modern, and user-friendly website that connects local businesses with networking opportunities, resources, training, and export support. The project aims to increase business engagement, showcase the Chamber's value proposition, support business growth, streamline operations, and boost visibility. The total cost of the project is £12,540, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity – £45,000

Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity requested £45,000 to create a Conservation Hub to host a permanent exhibition of interactive and educational displays. The hub will engage visitors with the aim of raising awareness about endangered species and climate change. The hub will also integrate the SWCC Hedgehog Hospital, serve as a community resource, and act as the headquarters for a new local hedgehog community group. The total cost of the project is £50,000, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Councillor SallyAnn Hart wrote a letter supporting the application, also encompassing Councillor Jose Hales and Shepreth Parish Council.

Hope CIC – £48,000

Hope CIC requested £48,000 for their Rural Wellbeing Transport and Infrastructure Enhancements project. The project includes purchasing a minibus, creating wheelchair-friendly paths, and installing benches at Hope Community Farm in Girton. The project aims to improve health, wellbeing, and social inclusion in South Cambridgeshire. The total project cost is £70,000, with a recommendation to fund £18,000 for accessible footpaths and benches.

Councillors Corinne Garvie and Richard Stobart wrote a letter supporting the application.

Avenue Farm Food Park Ltd – £49,500

Avenue Farm Food Park Ltd requested £49,500 for Frank's Farm Shop & Cookery School. The project involves moving their farm shop to a larger building and converting the existing shop into a cookery school. The project aims to increase community food knowledge, healthy food consumption, and help reduce food miles. The total cost of the project is £54,200, with a recommendation to fund the full requested amount.

Eastern Learning Alliance – £50,000

Eastern Learning Alliance requested £50,000 towards the development of a welfare unit, including accessible toilets and facilities to provide refreshments, alongside the 3G pitch at Impington Village College. The project aims to enhance sporting opportunities for students and the wider community. The total cost of the project is £65,900, with a recommendation to fund £23,738.

CAM Academy Trust – £17,318.06

CAM Academy Trust requested £17,318.06 for accessibility improvements at Comberton Village College. The project focuses on installing Sennheiser 'Mobile Connect' systems, including hearing loop systems, in the large hall. The project aims to improve accessibility for hearing-impaired students, staff, and community members. The total cost of the project is £17,318.06, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Councillor Redrup wrote a letter supporting the application.

Cambridge Sports Lakes Trust – £11,040.00

Cambridge Sports Lakes Trust requested £11,040.00 for a signage improvement project at Milton Country Park. The project involves ordering and installing 10 new A0 lectern-style interpretation boards with maps and information about the park's wildlife. The project aims to help users navigate the park more easily and encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of its ecological significance. The total cost of the project is £11,040.00, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Councillor Bearpark wrote a letter supporting the application.

Barrington Parish Council – £50,000

Barrington Parish Council requested £50,000 for internal fittings for the Barrington Sports Pavilion post-construction. The project includes purchasing a commercial kitchen, furniture, storage costs, and fixtures. The project aims to improve the existing sports pavilion, which is in poor structural condition and no longer compliant with current standards. The total cost of the project is £651,460, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Melbourn Community Hub – £16,807

Melbourn Community Hub requested £16,807 for essential works at the hub. The project includes purchasing new seating for the community café and installing a new fat trap in the kitchen. The project aims to improve the hub's facilities and ensure it can continue to provide a range of services for the community. The total cost of the project is £16,807, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Councillor Sally Ann Hart wrote a letter supporting the application.

Charles Owen Bespoke Ltd – £50,000

Charles Owen Bespoke Ltd requested £50,000 for workshop and machinery investment. The project involves acquiring and implementing a computer numerical control (CNC) router to modernise manufacturing processes and increase workshop productivity. The total cost of the project is £62,080, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Councillor Heather Williams wrote a letter supporting the application.

Blossomify CIC – £24,900

Blossomify CIC requested £24,900 for the Cambridge Active Rural Tourism (CART) project. The project is a community-led initiative based in Bourn, designed to transform rural tourism and support youth wellbeing by combining light active travel with local heritage storytelling. The project includes purchasing a low-emission passenger van. The total cost of the project is £24,900, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Councillor Bunty Waters wrote a letter supporting the application.

Histon and Impington Communications CIC (HI HUB) – £32,105

Histon and Impington Communications CIC (HI HUB) requested £32,105 for website development. The project seeks to enhance HI HUB's digital capacity by developing a scalable framework to syndicate its hyper-local news and event service to neighbouring villages. The total cost of the project is £32,105, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Councillors Sunita Hansraj, James Rixon, and Martin Cahn all wrote letters supporting the application.

Banquet Inn Bars Ltd – £33,750

Banquet Inn Bars Ltd requested £33,750 for Banquet Inn Bars Events. The project involves scaling up operations and investing in modern, higher-quality equipment, including a new mobile bar vehicle. The project aims to expand services to a wider range of events, improve efficiency and service quality, increase capacity to host and organise community events, create local employment opportunities, and strengthen the vibrancy and sustainability of rural life in the region. The total cost of the project is £33,750, with a recommendation to fund £0.

Councillors Redrup and Atkins wrote letters supporting the application.