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We are really pleased to announce we have finally received confirmation of a further £33 million, 1-year extension of the Rural England Prosperity Fund. Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils will get a proportion of this.

The REPF will continue to provide capital funding to: 

support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams. 

Support new and improved community infrastructure that provide essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy. 

While we have been campaigning for a longer-term round of the REPF, the announcement today is still very welcome, as it does seem to be a single year top-up, and Defra have made it clear that they intend any future rounds from this point to be 3–4-year rounds, which is in line with our asks. We’re told this is a top-up to provide as much stability as possible in advance of wider local funding reforms announced in the Autumn Statement. 

Worcestershire farmers and growers are being encouraged to engage with the Worcestershire Growth Hub to find out more about the support available for organisations. There is a variety of new business support, funding and grants available to help organisations across Worcestershire.

Local businesses are being encouraged to contact the Worcestershire Growth Hub team to find out how their growth could be supported. There is support available for businesses looking to upskill or train their staff, businesses looking to access specialist expert advice, funding for growth ambitions and much more.

Alongside this, organisations can also find out about all of the upcoming business support events via the Worcestershire Growth Hub’s events calendar. This events page pulls all of the available business support events being delivered in Worcestershire together into one place, regardless of the organiser, location or style of event. 

To contact the Worcestershire Growth Hub team: call – 01905 677888 or email [email protected]

Come and meet your Malvern Hills District Council rural farming community builder

Following the success of the collaboration with the NFU and Clive's Fruit Farm at the first of the farming engagement breakfasts in January, Community Builder Linda will be at Clive’s Fruit Farm.

This will be an opportunity to pop in and say hello and find out what a Community Builder does; buy a cuppa at the counter if wished or just pull up a chair and have a chat! It will all be very informal. We hope that the drop ins will be an opportunity to meet with other members of the farming community and find out what we can do to support. We understand the joys and challenges of the farming way of life. Your NFU County Adviser Emma Hamer will also try to be there.

We can help with information, networking, clubs and events and available grants and connect to local services. Or perhaps you have an idea for a course, activity or event that you'd like to talk through. We may even be able to support you in getting an idea off the ground or assist in finding a venue and looking into funding options.  Perhaps you'd like to develop a rural community history project, a farm walk, a discussion group or a lunch club. Or perhaps you would like to expand an existing activity and engage with farming/nonfarming neighbours. Or something else! We are here to support you in talking through that idea or to just provide a listening ear. 

Do pop in and say hello or feel free to contact Linda by email: [email protected] or telephone: 01684 862165

Date

14 May 2025 (then every second Wednesday of the month)

Venue & Timings

2-3pm at The Cafe, Clive's Fruit Farm, Nr Upton Upon Severn, WR8 OSA.

There will be a further round of FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes) funding which will be available for members farming in and around the Malvern Hills National Landscape, formerly the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.