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A school is also set to transform an underused caretakers’ building into a community hub offering food to families facing hardship after being awarded almost £15,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Members of South Staffordshire Council’s cabinet approved three funding requests for projects supporting district residents at its meeting on Tuesday (October 21). The authority has been allocated a £1.25m share of the UKSPF and £146,792 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to be distributed in the district during 2025/26. Some funds were earmarked towards a number of projects earlier this year. A report to Tuesday’s cabinet meeting said: “The Street Scene team have compiled a list of a variety of environmental/green space enhancements to council-owned sites across the district in Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay, Brewood, Bilbrook, Wombourne, Perton and Kinver. The works include a fencing, bollards, resurfacing, pathworks and planting; £90k was indicatively set aside in this year’s plan and this amount is now requested to enable these works to be undertaken as soon as possible. “The approved plan included an allocation (£50k) for the wholesale conversion of Jubilee House for co-working space and that is no longer required, therefore this amount is available to be reallocated. Members will recall that in the 24/25 programme the council invested UKSPF in significant pathway improvements to the Wyrley and Essington Canal in Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay, however the full stretch identified for improvement could not be completed due to the amount of UKSPF available. “We have received a quote to complete the remainder of the path resurfacing for just under £30k. Approval is now sought to reallocate some of the funding set aside for Jubilee House to complete the pathway improvements to the Wyrley and Essington Canal in Cheslyn Hay.” As well as allocating these funds, cabinet members approved UKSPF awards to Beacon Centre for the Blind and The Windsor Academy Trust on Tuesday. The Great Wyrley Academy will use the £14,490 grant to create a community hub and fridge to help meet local need. The cabinet report said: “(The) vision is to transform an underutilised caretakers building on the school site into a vibrant, multipurpose community hub that delivers tangible, long-term social value. It will be delivered in a formal partnership with the established local charity Helping Hearts Food Bank – Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay (and) the project will address rising food insecurity and food waste. “The Community Fridge will provide a dignified and accessible source of nutritious food for families facing hardship. Unlike a traditional food bank, it will operate on a surplus food model, receiving donations from local supermarkets and national redistribution platforms (FareShare and Neighbourly), a school orchard growing project, a new Great Wyrley Academy PTFA and local residents, which are then made available to anyone in the community.” Beacon Centre for the Blind, which has been awarded £10,127.25, has previously delivered UKSPF-funded projects in Wolverhampton, Dudley and Sandwell. The cabinet report said: “We are now seeking to bring that same impact to South Staffordshire — where over 5,500 residents live with sight loss — through a locally focused programme that builds skills, confidence and connection in a truly inclusive way. “Some SkillSight project activities will be delivered from our centre which is under a mile from the South Staffordshire border. Others will be delivered in community locations across the border; we currently have premises in Penkridge and Pattingham so will likely focus on those areas but are happy to deliver wherever there is demand.” Wheaton Aston Sports and Social Club has been awarded £15,050 from the REPF. The club is home to cricket and football teams, as well as hosting events and entertainment for the community, weekly tai chi classes and monthly meetings of the local auto club. The cabinet report said: “A new decking area is required to use as a viewing platform across the playing fields for senior and junior cricket and junior football. It is also needed as an accessible outdoor communal space at events such as fundraisers for the local sports clubs, PTAs, and charities. “We would also like to extend the use to include outdoor activities such as tai chi (class currently held inside). The new patio will transform our outdoor space into an inclusive area for gatherings, events, and relaxation, giving the community a safe, accessible environment they can truly enjoy year-round.”
