UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) formed part of the previous Government’s wider commitment to level up all parts of the UK.  The overarching aim of the fund was to build pride in place and increase life chances.

The new Government announced a ‘transition’ year of UKSPF funding from April 2025 to March 2026, with an intention of wider local growth funding reforms from 2026. This transition year is to enable local authorities to continue to support local organisations and the local economy.

Cumberland Council has been allocated £3,463,046 in 2025/26 under UKSPF and an additional £755,827 under REPF and will continue to support businesses and communities to address identified local challenges.  

UKSPF Investment priorities

Government have identified three core priorities for 2025/26

• Communities and Place: aimed at supporting healthy, safe and inclusive communities, improving health and wellbeing and enabling thriving places, including the development of the visitor economy, and high streets and town centres improvements.
• Supporting Local Business: includes advice and support to business, enterprise culture and start-up support.
• People and Skills: aimed at enabling employability, including supporting people who are economically inactive to progress towards and into sustained employment and investing in employment related and essential skills.

In 2025/26 Cumberland Council has chosen to focus on the following themes:

• high streets and town centres improvements
• development of the visitor economy
• improving health and wellbeing
• bringing communities together
• advice and support to businesses
• supporting people to progress towards and into employment
• employment-related skills and essential skills

Rural England Prosperity Fund

During 2023-25, the Council also received Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). REPF is a rural top up to UKSPF to help address the additional needs and challenges facing rural areas. It funds capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure, helping to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

2025-26 REPF allocations are now confirmed with additional detail to follow. Please keep checking this page for further updates.

Local Partnership Group

A Local Partnership Group made up of local stakeholders from strategic organisations across the Cumberland area and wider region was established in 2022 to provide advice on the strategic fit and deliverability of UKSPF and REPF projects. The LPG will continue to meet throughout 2025/26.

Keeping in touch

You can keep up to date with news, activity, and events related to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cumberland by checking this webpage. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, you can send an email to [email protected]