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Wychavon Rural Fund

The Wychavon Rural Fund is now closed.

The Fund supports projects with grants from £2,500 up to £25,000 from businesses and communities throughout rural Wychavon.

Please use the links below to find out more.

What is the Wychavon Rural Fund

The Wychavon Rural Fund is being delivered by Wychavon District Council. The aim of the fund is to facilitate businesses and communities to address issues and barriers to growth, particularly those associated with being in a rural area.

The funding comes from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Who can apply

Any organisation with legal status can receive funding, including:

  • Micro enterprises should have less than 10 employees and an annual turnover under €2 million, and small enterprises should have less than 50 employees and an annual turnover under €10 million.
  • voluntary organisations
  • registered charities
  • local authorities
  • public sector organisations
  • higher and further education institutions

Please note we cannot support projects that have received funding from other Defra schemes, including:

Types of projects the fund supports

We are looking to support new capital projects (something physical like a new piece of equipment or machinery) that bring something new to your business. They must represent good value for money and be able to be completed by December 2024. We cannot fund staff costs, general operating expenses or services you are legally required to provide.

Please refer to our  Outputs and Outcomes Guidanceto determine where your project sits regarding the Wychavon Rural Fund.

Supporting Rural Enterprise

Due to the tight timescales of this round we are looking for projects that can be delivered quickly, and must be able to be delivered by the end of 2024. The Rural Fund welcomes projects for purchase of capital items that will assist start-up, growth, development and job creation. 

The following types of project will be supported:

  1. Purchase of capital items to start, grow and develop the business offer of micro and small rural businesses and farm diversifications, for example:          
    • Gardening equipment that would increase the services offered by a business.
    • A horsebox to provide catering at events selling food made using farm produce from the business.
  2. Community enterprises projects that will make a direct contribution to the local economy, for example:
    • Purchase and fit out of a community shop.
    • Creation of a community space that will generate income and create paid jobs.
  3. Development and promotion of the visitor economy, for example:
    • Updating a visitor attraction to make it more accessible to a wider audience.
    • Creation of visitor accommodation, as part of a wider attraction or with a unique selling point.

Please note we are not accepting applications from projects relating to building work or needing any form of planning permission during this round. 

Projects should not have already started before being approved for funding.

If you need more information or have a project that you are confident that can be delivered by December 2024 please use the details in the contact us section to get in touch with us for a discussion.

Where projects should take place

The project must be delivered in a rural area within the district of Wychavon (i.e. wards outside of Evesham, Pershore and Droitwich town centres). Please refer to the Wychavon Rural Map to check if your project is in a rural postcode.

How to use the map:

  • Click on the link to the Wychavon Rural Map.
  • Type details of the project location in the search box and select the location from the drop down options.
  • Tick the box agreeing to the Terms and Conditions and press Continue.
  • Look at the box on the bottom right entitled Wychavon Rural Fund; this will tell you if the identified area is eligible for funding.

Note, you can also use the Map button at the top of the screen to show a wider area by selecting the Wychavon Rural Fund layer and zooming out.

How much can be applied for

Capital grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 are available.

Private sector organisations will be expected to match fund at least 50% of the project.

Public or voluntary sector organisations will be expected to match fund at least 30% of the project. 

How to apply

We are not accepting any more applications for the Wychavon Rural Fund.

Below is more information for those who have already applied.

Round Five – Key Dates

  • Appraisal panel in September 2024
  • Projects should take place between October 2024 and December 2024. Projects that have already started are not eligible for funding under the Wychavon Rural Fund.
    Who to contact for more information

    If you need more information or would like clarification on if your project qualifies for funding then email our team and we will be happy to help.

    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    If you want to talk something through with us then contact one of the officers below:

    UKSPF Programme Support Officer

    Georgie Muckle, UKSPF Support Officer on 01684 862270 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    For general guidance on developing your ideas and what information we are looking for in your form please contact:

    Emma Ridley, Economic Development Officer, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 07971 527006. 

    Case Studies

    Read more about some of the projects the Wychavon Rural Fund has supported.

    A group of people stood between two vans

    Morris Commercial

    An £11,000 grant helped update the company's prototype manufacturing workshops at Hinton-on-the-Green.

    Three people stood in front of a window

    Wedding Barn

    A £25,000 grant is helping turn a barn in Wick into a dream wedding and conference venue, to help grow the rural economy.

    A man and a woman with a tray of bread

    Eat Your Crusts Ltd

    Naunton Beauchamp baker received £3,692 to buy new equipment to improve the efficiency and production of her business.

    Wychavon 50th anniversary logo