Seven projects that will make a difference in Spalding are set to receive Pride in Place funding totalling more than £2.2 million as Spalding Neighbourhood Board announces its first round of grants.
The funding awards are being made after an open call process for projects saw an initial 35 expressions of interest shortlisted to 22 applications through a rigorous assessment process, supported by independent experts.
The final projects were subsequently reviewed by the Board against robust criteria, including fit with community needs identified through consultation, before the successful schemes were selected.
Robin Hancox, Chair, Spalding Neighbourhood Board said: “The Board has very carefully considered all of the applications against a clear framework. It has not been an easy task at all to decide which projects should receive funding.
“Ever present in all of our minds has been the needs of the local community, and the priorities which clearly emerged from our consultation.
“It is fantastic that we are now in a position to make these grants to these worthy projects which will make such a meaningful difference in our town.
“But this is just the beginning of delivering the investment in Spalding, and we will be making further announcements in due course.
“I would like to thank everyone for helping us to reach this exciting stage of our programme – to all the organisations which spent their time submitting applications, and also to local people who shared feedback and helped to shape the priorities for this funding.
“I am really looking forward to seeing how these projects move forward to benefit our town.”
Councillor Nick Worth, leader of South Holland District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see these first grants awarded to some great local initiatives, and to feel like the Neighbourhood Board’s hard work can now start to make a real, tangible impact for Spalding and its residents.
“This is a significant investment in the town, in projects that reflect the priorities local people have told us matter most. We look forward to working with the Board and our partners to ensure this opportunity delivers lasting benefits, helping Spalding to thrive as a vibrant, welcoming and resilient place for those who live, work and visit here.”
Further work is taking place with other shortlisted proposals to refine their project funding allocations. These will be confirmed in due course.
In addition, the Board has agreed to fund a public arts commission within the next four years following a number of applications focused on this theme. More details on this will be shared as the commission develops.
Following the announcement, grant funding agreements will be made with each of the projects and work can then begin. Updates on projects progress will be shared in the coming months.
The Projects
The projects receiving Pride in Place funding in the first tranche of the programme are:
Spalding Gentlemen’s Society – £1 million to support the works taking place at Broad Street Business Centre to create a world-class arts, culture and heritage centre for the people of Spalding. The new centre will be an inclusive, accessible hub for arts, culture and heritage activity, containing galleries, activity and event spaces, research and training facilities, and more. A comprehensive programme of activity will be delivered from the centre.
Petronella Keeling, Chairman of Spalding Gentlemen’s Society said: “Spalding Gentlemen’s Society is delighted to have been selected to receive £1 million Pride in Place funding. We cannot emphasise enough how pivotal this support will be in enabling us to create an exemplary arts, culture and heritage centre for Spalding’s communities.
“This funding, alongside the support we’ve received from other partners, will enable us to achieve our vision of securing the Society’s internationally significant collections and bringing our historic museum on Broad Street back to life for the benefit of so many people – and for the town itself – allowing us all to build a real sense of pride in the direction we’re headed.
“This announcement comes at a vital time: while we are finalising repairs to our 1911 museum building and as we take steps to fulfil our ambition of expanding into the former Broad Street Business Centre (previously the Leverton Building) next door. We’re honoured to have the chance to represent local residents and work alongside them to create a wonderful community space and accompanying programme of activities that will benefit so very many people.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to highlight the town’s past, work together to improve its present, and build its reputation on a world stage for the future too.”
Sarah Fletcher, Manager, Spalding BID said: “On behalf of Spalding BID Ltd, we are delighted to have been awarded Enjoy Spalding funding which will enable us to deliver more events and activities in the town until 2029. This opportunity will complement and enhance BID Levy delivery plans already in place, to support businesses by helping the town become a much more vibrant and welcoming place.
“Spalding BID Ltd is also very pleased that we are also supporting the Community Safety Initiative by working closely with Spalding Town Board and the local organisations involved. We have recognised for a long time that feeling safe and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour is a key priority for the public and our businesses. By addressing the issues on the front line, we are helping to make Spalding a safer and much more welcoming place to visit.
“We are looking forward to working with Spalding Town Board and local stakeholders to deliver both projects, expecting to have a positive impact on Spalding Town Centre.”
Enjoy Spalding (Spalding BID) – £270,000 (which includes £100,000 capital and £170,000 revenue) to support a programme of events and activities that promote the town as a welcoming, attractive and inviting place to be, encouraging more people in. Enjoy Spalding will be delivering a wider range of activities on a more regular basis, such as themed family events, classic car show, open air live music and bike event, sports and film screenings, and Countdown to Christmas activities, along with weekly activities in the town centre.
Lighthouse Community Hub – £190,000 (which includes £165,000 capital and £25,000 revenue) for building works to the new hub on 18-19 Broad Street that will bring together family, youth, wellbeing, and community activities under one roof. The project will create a welcoming, multi-use space that serves families, young people, and the wider community, including a soft play area, a dedicated youth zone, a café overlooking the river, and flexible community spaces. The funding will also support initial staffing of the new hub.
Dale Wootton, Lighthouse Community Hub said: “We’re extremely grateful to the Pride in Place board for backing this project. It means we can bring something new to the community while breathing life back into a building that’s been part of the fabric of Spalding for over 60 years as the much-loved Hills store. With the new soft play, youth zone and a reopened café looking out over the river, we hope it’ll keep serving the local community for years to come.”
Project St Thomas – £78,444 (which includes £47,444 capital and £31,000 revenue) to support targeted building improvements to preserve and maintain the building to a high standard. Additionally, funding will support the structured development of youth provision, volunteering, and the operation of the space.
Tracey Carter, Relationship Manager, Project St Thomas said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Spalding Neighbourhood Board for recognising the value of community-led projects such as Project St Thomas. This funding will allow us to improve the building, expand opportunities for young people and continue developing the activities and support that local residents tell us they need.”
People Make Spalding, CVS Lincolnshire – £75,000 (£18,750 each year for 4 years) – a programme of work with the community that will include opportunities for community and resident engagement, support for volunteering across Pride in Place projects, and help to existing new and future community groups to be set up and run effectively.
Dr Batul Dungarwalla, Deputy Chief Executive, CVS Lincolnshire said: “CVS Lincolnshire is delighted to be awarded funds from Pride in Place for Spalding. Our work at CVS happens behind the scenes. As the only Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) nationally accredited infrastructure organisation in Lincolnshire, we work with communities shaping what matters to them. This funding will ensure volunteering is at the heart of strong and connected communities. By supporting small groups to become more sustainable and creating opportunities for collaboration, we can continue to help local organisations thrive, share resources, and deliver an even greater impact with people in Spalding.”
Tonic Health – £10,000 to support the creation of a learning incubator within its Spalding community hub. This will be dedicated space designed to help people to access learning and help residents to improve their digital skills. The work will see an existing room converted into a learning space with desks, chairs, privacy booths, laptops, and a large presentation screen.
Michael Morris, Founder and CEO, Tonic Health said: We are delighted the Spalding Neighbourhood Board have backed our project. Our wellbeing hub continues to welcome members from the community, and many don’t have digital access. With so much statutory support moving across to digital, exclusion has become more of a problem. Being able to provide a facility, equipment and education, we can hopefully support those who currently are digitally excluded.”
Safety and Security investment – £640,000 (including £160,000 per year for 2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29 and 2029/30). As previously announced, Pride in Place funding is set to support a new model to support safety and security in the town centre that combines community support officers recruited by the council with a flexible private patrol service to provide cover in the short term and to offer additional capacity and support in the longer term, particularly during busy periods. Read more here: Spalding Neighbourhood Board Announces New Safety and Security Model for Town Centre – Love Spalding