This is one of six UK Shared Prosperity Key Funds available in Wrexham County Borough. Funding for the grant is provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

The overall aim of this fund is to increase the levels of functional numeracy in the adult population across the UK. 

This funding can help make a difference in your local community. The scheme offers funding from £10,000 to £200,000 to support projects that will see: 

1. More adults achieving maths qualifications / participating in numeracy courses – up to, and including Level 2/ SCQF Level 5.
2. Improved labour market outcomes – for example, fewer numeracy skills gaps reported by employers, and an increase in the proportion of adults that progress into sustained employment and / or education.
3. Increased adult numeracy across the population – this is an overall impact, which goes beyond achieving certificates or qualifications. This will track both the perceived and actual difference that taking part in the programme makes in supporting learners to improve their understanding and use of maths in their daily lives, at home and at work – and to feel more confident when doing so.

Who must benefit from the project?

Adults 19 and over who have not previously attained a Level 2/ SCQF Level 5 or higher maths qualification (equivalent of GCSE Grade C/4). 

They can either be working towards a maths Level 2/ SCQF Level 5 or Functional Skills Qualification, need specific numeracy skills for their work or progression, or just want to brush up on the skills to help them get on in life and work.

Who can apply? 

• local authorities
• public sector organisations
• higher and further education institutions
• private sector companies
• constituted voluntary / not-for-profit / community organisations / social enterprises
• constituted community groups / clubs
• registered charities

What you can spend the money on

• staff costs related to the project
• training costs
• transport related to the project
• utilities or running costs related to the project
• room hire
• tutor costs
• volunteer expenses
• administration costs
• marketing
• case study creation
• resource packs 
• costs for delivering your project bilingually such as translation costs
   

What we cannot fund

• paid for lobbying, entertaining, petitioning or challenging decisions, which means using the fund to lobby (via an external firm or in-house staff) in order to undertake activities intended to influence or attempt to influence Parliament, government or political activity including the receipt of UKSPF funding; or attempting to influence legislative or regulatory action
• payments for activities of a party political or exclusively religious nature
• VAT reclaimable from HMRC
• gifts, or payments for gifts or donations
• statutory fines, criminal fines or penalties
• payments for works or activities which the lead local authority, project deliverer, end beneficiary, or any member of their partnership has a statutory duty to undertake, or that are fully funded by other sources 
• statutory activities
• contingencies and contingent liabilities, loans, endowments or interest
• dividends
• bad debts, costs resulting from the deferral of payments to creditors, or winding up a company
• expenses in respect of litigation, unfair dismissal or other compensation
• costs incurred by individuals in setting up and contributing towards private pension schemes
• alcohol
• profit-making or fundraising activities 
• overseas travel

How to apply

Applications for funding will follow a two-stage process:

Stage 1

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to outline your project which will allow us to verify if your organisation and proposed project is eligible to apply to the key fund.

You will need to register an account for your organisation on MyAccount to be able to do this. 

Stage 2  

After submitting your EOI, we will assess whether your organisation and project is eligible to apply to the key fund. 

If it is eligible you will receive an email with a link to access the full application form. The form will be provided through MyAccount, which allows you to save progress, upload evidence and prepare your full application for submission. 

Once full applications are received, the next steps will be:

1. The full application will be appraised by the relevant key fund team.
2. Views sought from relevant stakeholders.
3. The Local Advisory Panel will assess and prioritise the project, then approve or reject the full application. 
4. All applicants will be advised of a decision.
5. We will then issue formal grant funding agreements for successful applications 

By submitting a full application, you authorise us (Wrexham Council) to make any necessary enquiries to check any information that is required for the administration of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme. The information you provide may also be shared with others as stated within Wrexham’s Key Fund Privacy Notice. 

Deadlines and timeframe for applications 

The initial application (stage 1 – EOI) is to be submitted within 10 working days from January 22, 2024. 

Once all applications are assessed, successful projects will have 15 working days to submit a full application.

Future opportunities to submit bids may be opened, if funds remain available. 

How applications will be assessed

The full applications will be assessed and considered in terms of: 

• eligibility
• value for money based on outputs / outcomes to be achieved and in line with the scheme’s aims and objectives.