The Council has agreed funding of up to £615,000 to deliver a Supported Apprenticeship programme to create opportunities for some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. People living in East Sussex in supported and temporary accommodation, and those at risk of homelessness in the county, will be given support to […]
Funding boost to help ease Covid-related debt
Residents facing financial pressure and debt as a result of Covid-19 restrictions can get the support they need thanks to funding of more than £500,000. East Sussex County Council is supporting organisations with one-off grants to help them offer advice and support to people who finances have been affected by […]
Working from home? Customers may be eligible to claim tax relief in 2021/22
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is accepting tax relief claims for working from home due to coronavirus during 2021/22. More than 550,000 employed workers have already claimed and are benefitting from the tax relief. If employed workers were told to work at home by their employer because of coronavirus and, […]
Seaford Town Council’s Community Grants Scheme 2021/22
Seaford Town Council is pleased to announce that its annual Grants Scheme is going live from Tuesday 6th April and will be open for applications! Each year the Town Council extends the opportunity to local community groups, charities or voluntary organisations to apply for a financial grant from the Town […]
Free business start-up programmes
Eastbourne residents with a business idea or who have opened a new business, have an opportunity to apply for the Lewes district’s biggest business start-up programme.Applicants on the LEAP business start-up programme have access to a package of tailored support to help them create strong foundations for a successful business. […]
Government-backed loans help thousands of businesses to protect jobs during pandemic
new statistics reveal that three Bounce Back Loans were issued every minute since May 2020 launch emergency loans provided almost £180 billion in total since March 2020 the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) scheme alone supported firms responsible for 2.5 million jobs The Treasury’s final monthly update on its emergency […]
Extra help for businesses to cover Covid-19 losses
We are currently accepting applications under the Exceptional Hardship, Business Adaptation and Self-employed schemes. Following a recent review, the council expanded the Additional Restrictions Grant so that it can support more businesses through these schemes: Exceptional Hardship Scheme: Aimed at micro, small and medium sized businesses, this is designed to […]
Extra help for Eastbourne businesses to cover Covid-19 losses
Eastbourne Borough Council has earmarked funding to provide extra support for local businesses as the economic effects of Covid-19 continue to bite. Councillor David Tutt (pictured), Leader of the Council, said: “As long as infection rates continue to fall, we are very much looking forward to the lifting of restrictions […]
Maria Caulfield MP encourages universities, schools and colleges to sign up for new Turing Scheme
Maria Caulfield MP has urged schools, colleges and local universities in and around the Lewes constituency to apply for the Conservative Government’s new £110 million Turing Scheme, which will provide young people with the opportunity to study and work around the world. The landmark scheme, which replaces the UK’s participation […]
Havens Community Hub Supports Local Youth Employment Prospects
In July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the £2bn Kickstart Scheme which provides six months of funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds receiving Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The Havens Community Hub, in conjunction with the Sussex Chamber of Commerce, was one […]
HMRC PR: South East families reap the benefits of Tax-Free Childcare
South East families using their Tax-Free Childcare accounts to pay for their childcare costs are benefitting from a government top-up worth up to £500 every three months, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced. But there are thousands of families across the UK missing out on the chance to save […]
£1,069,272 for East Sussex to help support victims of domestic abuse
Domestic abuse victims and their children living in East Sussex will be able to receive more support thanks to extra Government funding. The extra money will help victims and their children access life-saving support in safe accommodation, including advocacy, counselling, and therapy in safe locations such as refuges or specialist […]
Councillor calls for Universal Credit increase to be made permanent
James MacCleary (pictured), Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Lewes and Leader of Lewes District Council, has joined over 30 other Liberal Democrats leading councils in England in writing to the government calling for the £20 increase in Universal Credit, introduced in March 2020, to be made permanent. The letter follows […]
Council’s new bidding process for voluntary grants is ‘fairer approach’
Cabinet councillors on Lewes District Council, on Thursday, February 4, approved a new approach for allocating grants to voluntary organisations which will enable a wider range of groups to apply for funding. This follows a review, including a consultation over the autumn, of the existing Community Grants Policy that awards grants annually to local organisations in three-year cycles. A new competitive bidding process will be introduced this year […]
Apprenticeship training boost for East Sussex businesses
Looks like we are still able to access some grants from the EU, even if we are now not officially European!Small and medium sized enterprises across the county will be able to access support for apprenticeship training following a successful funding application to the European Social Fund and a match […]
Latest local restrictions support grants
We are now accepting applications from businesses for grants under the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) (Addendum) scheme. This scheme will only apply whilst either tier 4 and national lockdown restrictions apply. Who is it for?This scheme is for businesses who are named on the Business Rates bill and have […]
26% increase in nursing students welcomed by MP and nurse Maria Caulfield
Maria Caulfield MP has welcomed the final figures from this year’s admission cycle showing there were 29,740 acceptances to nursing and midwifery courses in England, 6,110 more than last year and an increase of over a quarter (26%). This year, 23% (6,770) of acceptances were from students aged 35 years […]
CABINET AGREE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Cabinet councillors have given the latest round of projects funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy unanimous approval and declared them ‘an early Christmas present for communities across the district’. The Community Infrastructure Levy, known as CIL, is a charge that local authorities can make on developments to raise funds for […]
Creative and digital business support scheme extended
East Sussex businesses in the creative, cultural and digital sectors will be able to access further help after a support scheme has been extended. The South East Creatives programme – set up by the South East Creative Economy Network to help the creative and digital sector across East Sussex, Kent […]
Government announces extra £225k for Lewes District Council to continue providing vital services during coronavirus
Maria Caulfield MP has welcomed news that Lewes will benefit from a share of £900 million in additional funding for local councils announced by the Government, which includes Lewes District Council. This means that since the start of the pandemic, Lewes has received £1.59 million in extra direct support from […]
Maria Caulfield MP urges local farmers to apply for productivity boosting grant
Maria Caulfield MP is urging local farmers in the Lewes constituency to apply for funding from the government’s £25 million Countryside Productivity Small Grants (CPSG) scheme. Under the Countryside Productivity Small Grants scheme, farmers can apply for grants of between £3,000 and £12,000 to buy new and innovative equipment – […]
Maria Caulfield MP visits heritage sites benefitting from government funding
Maria Caulfield MP has visited Bluebell Railway and Newhaven Fort after they received more than £1.5 million in government funding to support them during the coronavirus pandemic. Bluebell Railway is to receive £727,200 and Newhaven Fort is to receive £850,000. They are two of 445 organisations which will share £103 […]
Maria Caulfield MP encourages applications for Wealden Community Grants
Maria Caulfield MP is encouraging community groups and village organisations in the eastern part of her constituency to apply for community grants from Wealden District Council. The Wealden Community Grants Recovery fund offers grants of between £500 – £5,0000. These need to be spent before the end of March 2021. […]
New grants launched to help support business recovery
Coast to Capital has launched a new £2.1 million grant scheme, ‘Business Recovery Grants’ to provide businesses including those in the Lewes District with funding of between £10,000 and £170,000 (for projects of £20,000 to £340,000). The programme will provide up to 50% of an expansion project for organisations that […]
Green Homes Grant
From next month, the new £2 billion Green Homes Grant will part fund low carbon home improvements for over 600,000 homes however, only registered installers can carry out the work. To take part, all tradespeople must register with TrustMark – the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme giving homeowners reassurance that businesses […]
Winter Garden awarded £1.6 million towards refurbishment
The Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council has welcomed £1.6 million in government funding towards the refurbishment of Eastbourne’s Grade II listed Winter Garden. The money from the Getting Building Fund, designed to support economic recovery and create jobs, is a boost to the £3.9 million refurbishment project which will enhance […]
Self Employed Income Support Scheme
Small and medium sized businesses in the Lewes District can now access Open4Business for free until 31 October 2020. The online funding portal is updated regularly with new local, regional and national funding announcements and can be easily searched by industry, region and business size. The portal then provides information […]
Florist scoops £2,500 to grow budding new business
An entrepreneurial florist has won £2,500 towards her new business start-up in the first ever ‘virtual’ final of the Local Enterprise and Apprenticeship Platform (LEAP) annual award. Clare Smith beat the other finalists who all had to present their business plans to a panel of judges in a Dragon’s Den-style competition, which was held online this year due […]
Councils’ innovative grants portal showcased for good practice
Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council have been recognised for supporting local business through innovation during the pandemic. The Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted the councils’ dedicated portal that delivers Covid-19 business grants, as an example of good practice using a digital solution. The new portal was launched […]
Fund open for projects supporting reduction in suicide and self-harm
Cash boosts of up to £15,000 are being made available for projects that help to prevent suicides and reduce self-harm in high risk groups. Groups and organisations have until Monday, September 7 to apply for a share of the Suicide Prevention Fund, launched by the Sussex Health and Care Partnership […]
Former UTC building among Lewes district projects to receive funding boost
The Leader of Lewes District Council has welcomed £1.3million in government funding for the former UTC building in Newhaven along with investment into other four projects in Lewes district. The money announced today (Tuesday) from the government’s Getting Building Fund, designed to support economic recovery and create jobs, is a […]
Funding boost to help economy bounce back
ROJECTS designed to help the East Sussex economy bounce back from the Covid-19 crisis have secured more than £11 million of Government funding. All eight projects put forward by East Sussex County Council to deliver jobs and help the county’s economy recover will receive funding as part of the Getting […]
Five projects in Lewes constituency receive over £4 million in government funding
Maria Caulfield MP has welcomed over £4 million in government funding for five projects across her Lewes constituency including £1.2 million for a new Maritime & Sustainable Technology Hub in the UTC building in Newhaven. The Lewes constituency was the only constituency in the country to have five projects receive […]
Time running out for Lewes district businesses to apply for Covid-19 support grants
Lewes District Council is issuing a final call for local businesses to access Covid-19 support grants as next month’s closure date nears, with £21.7m so far paid out. The council has paid grants to 81% of all eligible small or retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in Lewes, equating to 1,763 firms. The Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant Fund will close on […]
Reduced VAT rate for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions
If you’re a VAT registered business, you can check if you can temporarily reduce the rate of VAT by 5% on supplies relating to hospitality, accommodation, or admission to certain attractions by visiting here www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-reduced-rate-for-hospitality-holiday-accommodation-and-attractions. The temporary reduced rate will apply to supplies that are made between 15 July 2020 and 12 […]
Seaford Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme 2020/21
Seaford Town Council is pleased to announce that its annual Grants Scheme is now open for applications! Each year the Town Council extends the opportunity to local community groups, charities or voluntary organisations to apply for a financial grant from the Town Council’s grants pool. Unfortunately, due to the current […]
Further £105 million to keep rough sleepers off the streets for good
Maria Caulfield MP has welcomed £105 million of additional government funding to keep rough sleepers off the streets for good. In March, government asked local authorities to bring ‘Everyone In’ and the response was outstanding. As a result, there are nearly 15,000 people accommodated in emergency accommodation, including those who […]
Making sweet music, with a little help from the council
Councillors have chimed in to support street musicians with their weekly music night. Upperton ward councillors have donated £200 to buy percussion instruments for the Hurst Road community group, who meet up once a week to entertain neighbours. Councillor Robin Maxted said there was a strong community feel in Hurst […]
Council gives Eastbourne good causes a £60,000 boost
Eastbourne Borough Council has awarded £60,000 to local good causes through its Small Grants Scheme this financial year. Among the charities and groups supported with grants of up to £5,000 are Culture Shift, People Matter, Holding Space, Age UK and Bourne Out. Councillor Alan Shuttleworth, Cabinet member for Direct Assistance […]
Maria Caulfield MP urges places of worship in Lewes constituency to apply for protective security fund
Lewes MP Maria Caulfield has written to places of worship in the local community, setting out details of the Government’s £3.2 million Places of Worship Protective Security Fund. The fund, which was established in 2016, is now open for the latest round of applications. It helps place of worship such […]
Phase one of walking and cycling fund announced for Lewes District
Further to the published story on June 12th here is an update for the future plans for walkers and cyclists. A plan for the rapid implementation of infrastructure improvements for walkers and cyclists has been given a guarded welcome by Lewes District Council. The government emergency active travel fund was […]