UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2022-25

20 projects have been approved with 9 capital and 11 revenue projects being supported. In 2023-24 revenue funding will be provided to 11 projects including a number of community events held in Barrhead, Clarkston and Giffnock. 2 capital projects will also receive funding during this period and will see the renovation of a Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) in Dunterlie and improvements to the pathways in Cowan Park complementing wider investments in the park.

14 projects have been approved and building on the provision that was delivered through European Structural Funds further employability programmes and partnerships will be delivered. The additional programmes being delivered include the Individual Placement and Support programme which supports people with severe and enduring mental health problems into employment, and the personalised learning programme Your Employability Skills, for individuals with multiple barriers to employment and education.

The Support Local Business Growth Grant Programme has been awarded funding to assist businesses to adapt and thrive. 5 grants have been approved and include funding to support a business making the move from home working to being clinic based with training space and clinic room rental. This move will initially create new employment for one individual and provides growth for the business. A grant has also been approved for a new interactive and multi lingual website development fora multi-national marketing agency based in East Renfrewshire.

A new government-funded programme to help adults across the UK to brush up their numeracy skills and boost their number confidence. It is an element of Pillar 3, People and Skills, within the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to which up to £559m of the £2.6bn total UKSPF has been allocated by government to local areas. East Renfrewshire Council has been awarded £568,227 for the Multiply programme.

The Multiply Programme will be managed by the Education Department and will feature both local and regional elements. The overall objective of Multiply is to increase the levels of functional numeracy in the adult population across the UK. The following success measures have been identified for the whole programme at national level:

• more adults achieving maths qualifications courses (up to, and including Level 2/ SCQF Level 5) and an increase in participation in numeracy courses.
• improved labour market outcomes e.g. fewer numeracy skills gaps reported by employers, and an increase in the proportion of adults that progress into sustained employment and/or education.
• increased adult numeracy across the population- this overall impact, which goes beyond achieving certificates or qualifications, will track both the perceived and actual difference taking part in the programme makes in supporting learners to improve their understanding and use of maths in their daily lives, at home and at work - and to feel more confident when doing so.