UKSPF Landscape Maintenance and Volunteer Programme Call Specification

Following the announcement of £1.2 million of UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) for Basildon Borough, we are pleased to announce that applications are now open for landscape maintenance and volunteer programme work.

What do we mean by landscape maintenance and volunteer programme work?

As part of Basildon's UKSPF objectives there is a need to create and improve our public realm and green spaces. Some of the UKSPF funding is being used to improve the public realm, introducing new planters and planting beds to create urban green spaces - but that is just the first step. For our green spaces to be successful they need stewardship.

The best green spaces are those that are cared for, used and respected by the community. The work proposed under the title of this fund is twofold:

Outcome 1: Landscape Maintenance - to improve and maintain green spaces.

Outcome 2: Volunteer Programme - to develop and engage with a volunteer group to support the maintenance and long-term stewardship of green spaces.

The two objectives are closely interlinked. The better connected our local green spaces are with our communities and their needs, the more they are respected and cared for. And with good maintenance and community love, the more scope our green spaces have to offer benefits in return.

This call is looking for applications from organisations who can bring together the people and skills needed to help make our local green spaces a success. In line with our wider UKSPF aims, we are particularly keen to support organisations that can offer benefits for physical town centre regeneration schemes (including public realm); improvements to existing, community and neighbourhood infrastructure; the creation & improvement of green and blue infrastructure, including community gardens, watercourses & embankments; enhanced educational, cultural, historic and heritage facilities; built/landscaped environment schemes to 'design out crime'; support for active travel infrastructure enhancements; and local sports and leisure facilities.

Applications must be submitted by Monday 19 August 2024

The funding, from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, is available to registered legal entities who undertake volunteer-led landscape work.

Organisations can apply for a grant up to a maximum value of £38,640.

This call is for landscape maintenance and volunteer programme work only and eligible activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• monitoring the condition of green spaces
• carrying out landscaping work
• recruiting, training and retaining volunteers to take part in landscape work and community events
• running events to encourage engagement in green spaces to establish wider social and wellbeing benefits and long-term stewardship (e.g. community planting days, biodiversity/bug counts)

The fund will not support activity that is commercial in nature or is solely for the benefit of the application organisations. Therefore, it is anticipated that the fund will be mainly of interest to organisations that provide services and support communities.

All the necessary documentation and the application form can be found below:

Basildon UKSPF Investment Plan – Abridged (PDF) [558KB] (opens new window)

Basildon UKSPF Maintenance Grant Call Specification (PDF) [163KB] (opens new window)

Basildon UKSPF Maintenance Grant Application Form (PDF) [244KB] (opens new window)

Basildon UKSPF Maintenance Grant Scope (PDF) [7MB] (opens new window)

Basildon UKSPF Maintenance Grant Agreement (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)

Basildon UKSPF Maintenance Grant Evaluation Criteria (PDF) [68KB] (opens new window)

Please note: There will be no further funding calls in 24/25 if all our available funding is allocated in this round.

If you have any queries or wish to speak with a member of the team in more detail, please email businessassist@basildon.gov.uk