Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda. The three-year fund ends in March 2025.  

In Torfaen, £24m has been invested in 20 projects focused on addressing the council’s nine Wellbeing Objectives:    

1: We will raise educational attainment, helping young people and adults to gain the qualifications and skills needed to lead positive lives 

Torfaen Works has received £6.9 million to increase skills and qualifications, including helping 637 residents with additional education or training, and 465 to gain qualifications and licences.   

Multiply is the UK Government’s national numeracy programme. Our Adult Community Learning team has received £3.15 million to help improve numeracy rates, including supporting 861 adults to get a maths qualification up to and including Level 2. 

Our Youth Engagement Programme works with 11-19-year-olds at risk of not being in education, employment or training. £557,214 has been given to several projects aimed at giving 50 young people volunteering opportunities and create five jobs. 

2: We will encourage and champion children, young people and families so they can thrive 

Torfaen Works aims to help 150 people into employment, 70 people to be in employment for six months and to support 300 people to begin looking for work.  

The Multiply programme offers numeracy courses for adults and families.  

£3.7 million has been given to a new Communities Operating Model aimed at helping individuals and communities to become more resilient through targeted specialist support. It will also support 200 people to become volunteers. 

The Youth Engagement Programme will help young people contribute to their communities through an allotment project and bike repair scheme.   

3: We will tackle inequality by focusing on early identification and prevention activities that support people to live independent and fulfilling lives 

A team of specialist resilient officers and community capacity builders has been employed to support people and communities, as part of the Communities Operating Model.  

4: We will make Torfaen more sustainable by connecting people and communities, socially, digitally and physically 

The £1.2 million Tackling the Nature Emergency project covers five projects, including park improvement plans, dealing with anti-social behaviour in playparks and litter and fly-tipping prevention. 

£553,416 is being invested in initiatives to support town centres, including a digitalising town centres programme. 

Local digital agency Uddr has been given £252,602 to develop free website and support packages for 200 businesses.  

£230,098 will be spent on supporting and promoting walking and cycling in the borough, including cycle training and infrastructure improvements. 

The Communities Operating Model will support and raise awareness of local community groups. 

5: We will respond to the climate and nature emergencies, recycle more and make improvements to the local environment 

£526,000 has been allocated to the Raise the Rate campaign to deliver projects aimed at increasing household and trade waste recycling.  

The £991,426 Food Resilience Programme aims to increase the amount of locally produced affordable food in the borough. 

A Business and Community Decarbonisation programme will help businesses and organisations reduce their carbon footprint, thanks to £687,378.  

The Tackling the Nature Emergency programme includes a tree risk assessment and invasive species treatment programme.  

The young people’s allotment project and investment in improved walking and cycling facilities will also help reduce carbon emissions.   

6: We will make Torfaen a great place to do business by working with local employers, encouraging new business start-ups and entrepreneurial activities 

£683,000 will enable the development of a business incubation initiative at Springboard in Cwmbran, supported by £341,000 SPF investment in an online Innovation Eco-System project aimed at high-tech and manufacturing businesses.  

A £75,000 Springboard Engineering Feasibility project will transform the disused Ty Cyd office building in Blaenavon into an engineering apprenticeship school alongside a business development centre.  

Torfaen Business Direct has been given £322,477 for a Business Support Programme which aims to create 60 new businesses and 45 new jobs.   

£150,585 has been invested in the Foundational Economy team focused on helping start-ups and new businesses who want to move to Blaenavon and Pontypool town centres. 

£100,308 will help support the Torfaen Strategic Economic Forum to link with colleges, the voluntary sector and regional and UK organisations, and promote peer-to-peer support. 

The Food Resilience Programme has created 11 new jobs and will help 15 businesses engage in new markets and 23 to diversify. 

The Uddr digital support package will help small businesses to increase their online presence. 

7: We will support and promote healthier lifestyles in Torfaen to improve mental and physical well-being 

£4.1 million allocated has been provided to part finance two new 3G sports pitches in Llantarnam and Abersychan School.  

The active travel programme will include improved communication and engagement on the benefits of walking and cycling for short journeys. It will also gather data for a new active travel policy. 

The Food Resilience Programme will support a bid for Torfaen to be named a Sustainable Food Place. An annual food summit will be held to promote the benefits of locally sourced and produced food. 

8: We will support our local culture and heritage and make Torfaen a thriving, safe and attractive place to live and visit 

The Town Centres programme includes a focus on attracting visitors to key destinations in Torfaen. 

Investment in improved walking and cycling routes will improve connection between communities.  

A £317,000 feasibility study will explore the potential of transforming a derelict building in Mamhilad into a future visitor attraction.   

£265,000 will be invested in developing a Destination Torfaen prospectus to promote Torfaen as a great place to live, work and visit.   

9: We will provide efficient customer focused services that reflect the way people live their lives and wish to access services 

Torfaen Business Direct provides a streamlined bespoke service to respond to all business enquiries. 

Last Modified: 05/07/2024 Back to top