News article

The Wychavon Rural Fund aims to support valuable new capital projects that promote the growth and development of start-ups and small businesses or bring something new to a community. The funding is intended for physical projects, such as new equipment or machinery and aims to support farm diversification outside of agriculture.

Grants ranging from £2,500 to £25,000 are available, with recipients required to match at least 30-50% of the total project costs. This shared investment reflects our commitment to community involvement and economic resilience.

Key dates for Wychavon Rural Fund: Round Two

• Expression of interest deadline – Midday, Monday, 7 July 2025
• Full Application deadline – Midday, Monday, 18 August 2025
• Funding decision – end of September 2025

Cllr Emma Kearsey, Deputy Council Leader and Executive Board Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Urban Design at Wychavon, said: “I am delighted that this second round of funding has been made available through the Rural England Prosperity Fund. A total of £245,000 has been allocated to Wychavon to support our rural businesses and communities. This investment is crucial for our rural businesses and communities, and it will play a pivotal role in bolstering our local economy.  I very much welcome the creative ideas and projects that our local businesses and community groups will bring forward to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.”

All projects from both rounds one and two must be completed by Saturday, 31 January 2026.

Two Wychavon projects that previously benefited from the fund are the Inkberrow Cricket Club and Church Lench Village Hall. Inkberrow Cricket Club received over £11,000 to invest in the future of cricket by helping fund the building of a dedicated junior cricket square. This enables the Club to provide better facilities for more children from diverse backgrounds and from further afield, encouraging them to participate in sports throughout the summer months. A grant of over £7,500 was allocated to Church Lench Village Hall to install a solar panel and storage battery system, bringing a projected energy saving of £79,000 over 25 years.

• For more details on the application process for businesses: https://www.wychavon.gov.uk/business/funding-and-support/wychavon-rural-fund
• For more details on the application process for communities: https://www.wychavon.gov.uk/community-and-living/wychavon-rural-fund-for-communities

For more information and to clarify whether a project qualifies for funding, please email: ruralfund@wychavon.gov.uk