The Suffolk Rural Services Scheme has been replaced by the Suffolk Rural Economy Scheme, which will run until October 2009. The Scheme is administered by Suffolk County Council, on behalf of the partners, which includes the rural district and borough councils of Suffolk.
Small one-off revenue and capital grants will be awarded to shops and post offices in rural areas, which can demonstrate sustainable economic community benefits.
The aim is to assist:
- Private rural shops and post offices, which are based in the community they serve, are viable, an asset to the community and the only business of that type in the settlement; and
- Social enterprises, charities, voluntary and community groups which run, or are creating, an economically viable community shop for the benefit of their rural community.
Grant applications from communities threatened with post office closure will be welcomed, but grants will not be made to support campaigns to prevent a post office closure.
Shops with a turnover of £7500 per week or less may apply for grants to improve premises or to expand their business.
Additional strand to the scheme
The scheme has attracted additional funding from Investing in Communities. This amounts to £90,000 to support enterprising communities. This strand will be delivered in partnership with Suffolk ACRE. Broadly speaking, we are looking for ten communities who have a new project to create a sustainable community business or service. This could be:
- a community shop;
- a community building seeking to diversify income (for example a village hall installing a bar); or
- establishing a regular farmer's market, craft or antique fair (or other).
Grants are around £9000 per project, to include project management support to work up a feasibility study and conduct community consultations. The watch words are: ‘rural’, ‘new’, ‘economic benefit to community’ and ‘sustainable’. Applications must be from a rural community or parish council, not an individual business. If you are aware of any project or community which could benefit from this funding - however tentative at this stage, please contact us using the details below.
Information can be downloaded here:
The Rural Economy Scheme is funded by:
- Babergh District Council
- Forest Heath District Council
- Mid Suffolk District Council
- St Edmundsbury Borough Council
- Suffolk Coastal District Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Suffolk County Council’s Corporate Regeneration Fund
- Waveney District Council
The following organisations are also part of the Rural Economy Scheme Partnership:
- Foundation East
- Post Office Ltd
- Rural Shops Alliance
- Suffolk ACRE
- ViRSA
Contact details
Economic Development Services
St Edmundsbury Borough Council
St Edmundsbury House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YS
Phone: 01284 757109
Fax: 01284 757421
Email: rural@stedsbc.gov.uk
