Liverpool communities to receive £1.8m annual funding boost
Communities across Liverpool are set to benefit from around £1.8 million of new investment each year through the Community Renewal Fund.
The funding, approved at a Cabinet meeting, will be distributed across 34 wards to support local projects, activities and services.
Ward councillors will lead decisions on how the money is spent in their areas, helping to ensure the investment is directed towards the issues and priorities that matter most to residents.
Projects could include improvements to youth services, support for community events, health initiatives and measures to address environmental concerns.
Funding has been allocated using the Index of Multiple Deprivation, a national measure used to identify communities experiencing the greatest levels of need.
The Community Renewal Fund is expected to launch later this summer and will be provided in addition to the existing budgets available to Liverpool’s ward councillors for local projects.
The 34 wards set to receive funding are:
Anfield, Arundel, Belle Vale, Canning, Clubmoor East, Clubmoor West, County, Croxteth, Dingle, Edge Hill, Everton East, Everton West, Fazakerley East, Fazakerley West, Garston, Kensington and Fairfield, Kirkdale East, Kirkdale West, Knotty Ash and Dovecot Park, Norris Green, Old Swan East, Old Swan West, Princes Park, Smithdown, Speke, Stoneycroft, Toxteth, Tuebrook Breckside Park, Tuebrook Larkhill, Vauxhall, Walton, Wavertree Garden Suburb and Yew Tree.
The investment comes alongside additional funding for neighbourhood improvements, including new playgrounds, park maintenance and extra street-cleaning staff.
This includes 26 additional barrow walkers and the recruitment of 11 employees to Liverpool’s street-washing team.
Councillor Ruth Bennett, Deputy Leader for Liverpool City Council, said:
“This fund is about directing support to the communities that need it most, and doing so in a way that puts power directly into the hands of the people who know those areas best.
“We want this investment to help build pride in our neighbourhoods and reduce the inequalities that too many of our communities still face.
“There is already a huge amount of positive work happening across our wards through existing funding pots, and this new fund will allow us to go even further in supporting local priorities and improving lives.
“It is only possible to invest this money thanks to receiving the best financial settlement in 15 years from the government, combined with our sound financial stewardship which is driving up income and reducing debt owed to the council.”
