UKSPF Case Studies
Broadway Lodge: Aftercare Service
Broadway Lodge provides counselling, group therapy, and social activities for recovering addicts to develop their interpersonal skills and move towards employment.
Business Support Unlocked
Delivered through the hive, BSU offers free, comprehensive support, guidance and resources to help local businesses start-up and grow.
Climate Emergency
Free Carbon Literacy training provided to residents and businesses as well as Net Zero Business Grants for energy saving capital improvements.
Community Grants
Grants have been given to 28 VCSE sector organisations to help them deliver impactful projects in our local communities.
Rural England Prosperity Fund
REPF is providing capital grants to rural community organisations and businesses to improve infrastructure and productivity.
Congar's Café Project
Broadway Lodge: Aftercare Service
Broadway Lodge is an abstinence-based addiction treatment centre in Weston-super-Mare. Their Aftercare service has been running in North Somerset since April 2023 and is funded by UKSPF.
Offering counselling, one-to-one sessions and group therapy, the Aftercare sessions build confidence, reduce stigma, and help participants understand they have a right to ask, ‘what’s next?’.
UKSPF also funds social activity to help build interpersonal skills and enable peer support in recovery. Kicking this off was a day at Thorpe Park!
Read an update from recent participants in the Aftercare service:
Eddie has recently completed several Building Groundworks training modules at Weston College. He feels excited about his new skills and has the relevant certificates required by contractors. Eddie’s confidence has grown enormously. He feels he is in a very safe space at the Aftercare service. He came to the UK from Portugal needing care in rehab. After leaving Broadway Lodge he initially faced a bumpy road, but armed with the tools from his rehabilitation and the support of Aftercare, we see a brand new Eddie with a clear vision of his future. He is an excellent recovery ambassador and willingly offers support and guidance to his peers.
Eddie
Suzie came to Broadway Lodge for an extended stay after years of drug and alcohol abuse. She came straight from hospital where her life had been saved. She signed up for Aftercare and following an initial period of ‘settling in’ to Recovery – moving to a dry house, attending AA and NA meetings, rebuilding relationships – Suzie is now a shining example of someone who has been helped to recovery. She relishes her family relationships and has now identified a course she would like to attend at Weston College. She will be attending a digital ‘back to basics’ course provided via North Somerset Training Hub and has encouraged a peer to go with her. Suzie actively encourages and supports her peers.
Suzie
Don has been a regular attendee at Aftercare for some time now. The recovery path can be a rocky one and isolation can set in. Don counters this by taking his camera with him when he goes out and is looking forward to starting a photography course later in September. Helen, Aftercare Counsellor, set him a light-hearted and fun challenge, to post one photograph a week leading up to his college course! All is not always serious in Aftercare, and there are moments when the group rename themselves Laughtercare!
Don
Many Aftercare participants are also actively committed to voluntary work. This can be anything from helping out at Weston’s Addiction Rehabilitation providers, cooking meals for those who need them, or repairing furniture donated for onward sale at charity outlets. Many take on the responsibility of ‘service posts’ at NA and AA meetings. This includes welcoming, making teas and coffees, serving on committees, publications management and fund raising.
Volunteer
Introducing ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ sessions in Weston-super-Mare
Broadway Lodge has launched ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ thanks to North Somerset Council’s allocation of the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Wellbeing Wednesday sessions are weekly, free to attend, and are designed to support North Somerset residents who are unemployed and recovering from addiction, domestic abuse, trauma, or mental health issues.
Women-only sessions offer a varied mix of social, wellbeing, and educational activities, centered around the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ (connect, be active, take notice, learn, and give). Each week, participants will engage in different activities designed to build confidence, improve self-esteem, foster connections with other women, learn self-care techniques, and support their journey forward. So far, participants have enjoyed axe throwing, reflexology, therapeutic sharing circles, activities in Grove Park and Djembe drumming.
Mixed-gender sessions provide a mid-week opportunity to focus on mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. These sessions include auricular acupuncture combined with sound healing meditation or drumming, creating a relaxing and nurturing environment for all participants.
Business Support Unlocked
Business Support Unlocked (BSU) launched in April 2023 to provide completely free access to information and guidance on starting and managing a business. This includes support with early growth, key priorities and even future proofing through development of sustainable business practices.
The programme is delivered through the hive, a not-for-profit organisation with 35 years of experience providing support for start-up, micro and small businesses across North Somerset.
Since the start of the programme to March 2024, BSU has:
- Helped support 428 businesses and entrepreneurs across North Somerset
- Helped create 55 new businesses
- Helped create 59 new jobs
To find out more and to sign up, visit: hivebusinesssupport.org/business-support-north-somerset/
The next generation experience has been transformative for me in sales, confidence-building, finding my voice, and utilising social media effectively. With the invaluable support I've received, I've honed my sales skills, gained the confidence to assert myself, discovered my unique voice, and learned to leverage social media platforms to amplify my message. This support has not only enabled my professional development but also empowered me to navigate new opportunities and challenges with resilience and creativity.
Patty
I really have enjoyed the session with Liz the Business advisor, the digital marketing mentor and Simon the volunteer business mentor. I've had three sessions in total and in another month, it would be great to get another one. It has helped me focus on activities that promote my business and win work. I've definitely been braver and have had three sales conversations as a result of some of the support I have received. It's now just finding the right balance of working in and on my business.
Laura
Great to have this available to small businesses who need support covering a wide range of areas where ordinarily as a new company you don’t know where to turn and/or don’t have the funds available to obtain the necessary help. The marketing and legal support is especially helpful. Thanks for providing this.
Tim
I had a great experience and get a lot of advice on the how to proceed to be able to establish my 1st contract. Great moment.
Antonie
Climate emergency
Carbon Literacy Action Day
North Somerset Council is committed to tackling the climate emergency and is continuing to work towards becoming a carbon neutral area by 2030.
Thanks to UKSPF funding, to mark global Carbon Literacy Action Day on Monday 4 December, North Somerset Council hosted the world’s largest in-person Carbon Literacy training day for local people and businesses, free of charge.
The training usually costs £125 per person, and was created by the Carbon Literacy Project to improve understanding of the causes and impacts of our everyday greenhouse gas emissions, which must drastically reduce to limit further global temperature rises.
As well as identifying ways everyone can play a part in tackling the climate emergency, the course also identifies ways to save energy costs, both at home and at work.
For more information about becoming an accredited Carbon Literate Organisation, or if you need further support to help your organisation make sustainable choices, please email climate.emergency@n-somerset.gov.uk.
Feedback from the day:
Nearly 200 people left more informed about climate change and their business, AND having made two carbon reduction pledges. They were also part of the wider Carbon Literacy Action Day which saw 1,000 people take part on Carbon Literacy training around the world!
What a day! Massive congratulations on pulling it off – I can’t begin to imagine the hours of prep that went into it. Can’t wait to see more local businesses implement positive changes!
Although climate change can be an overwhelming and frankly depressing subject, I left feeling optimistic and empowered about the changes we can make at an individual and business level to reduce our carbon footprint and reach net zero. It’s easy to think what you do won’t ever make a difference and that it’s just a drop in the ocean (especially when you see politicians taking separate private jets to COP28!), but in the wise words of Chris Packham “what is an ocean if not a multitude of drops”.
It broadened my awareness of climate change and it’s impacts on everyday actions across different areas. It’s a great course focusing on how we can significantly reduce emissions both at work and at home.
Brilliant to see so many people attended. Together we can all make a difference. Congratulations to all involved in organising and running the event. There will be some brilliant pledges.
It was inspiring to see so many companies wanting to make a positive change and help the world be a greener place. We came back with lots of ideas.
Net Zero Business Grants
A growing number of businesses in North Somerset are achieving significant sustainability milestones thanks to North Somerset Council’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – with a collective total of 107 tonnes of carbon emissions now saved annually.
The UKSPF Net Zero Business Grant programme has been providing financial support and expert guidance to local businesses, charities, and community groups, helping them reduce carbon emissions. So far, 16 organisations have been awarded funding, and 29 surveys have been conducted to identify carbon-saving opportunities.
The Strawberry Line Café and Cycle Project, a not-for-profit based at Yatton Railway Station, used the grant to upgrade to a new induction hob. The hob delivers 90% efficiency, compared to the 55% efficiency of the previous electric model. This change also improves the kitchen's air quality, safety, and comfort for staff and trainees.
The Strawberry Line Café
Backwell Tennis Club has installed new LED floodlights, cutting carbon emissions and energy costs. The new lights halve emissions from 12.5 tCO2e to 6.4 tCO2e, saving £4,980 annually, and reduce energy usage by 69.3%, lowering the load from 46kW to 14.1kW.
Backwell Tennis Club
Miles Bradley of Bradley’s Juices is committed to achieving net zero by 2025, aiming to eliminate reliance on carbon. Plans include transitioning to electric vehicles and switching to canned drinks, which are infinitely recyclable, require less energy to produce, and offer a 65% cost saving.
Rising energy costs challenge small businesses, but with support from the UKSPF Net Zero Business Grant, Bradley’s Juices installed a 22,000-watt solar PV system. This system reduces their reliance on fossil fuels, lowers electricity costs, and supports their transition to clean energy, offsetting their 60,000-watt annual energy usage.
Bradley’s Juices
Community Grants
Community organisations, charities, social enterprises and businesses across North Somerset have more access than ever to support thanks to the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Read about the big differences being made in our community.
Somerset Storyfest ONE TREE
Many Branches Refugee Project
True stories of refugees have been brought to life to help children gain a greater understanding of the world.
Michael Loader, founder of Somerset Storyfest said: “It was an absolute thrill for us at Somerset Storyfest to receive the UKSPF grant to fund thirteen visits to primary and secondary schools in North Somerset before March 2024. In summer 2023 we visited Winford, Churchill and St Francis primary schools bringing the project to 262 pupils and staff, who were riveted by the life stories that our session facilitators shared.
The aim is for young people to positively learn about countries and cultures unjustly affected by socio-political unrest – including the evacuation of German families in WWII, retreating from the Russian army; fleeing Sudan from a totalitarian government; and escaping Pakistan due to religious intolerance.
We offer creative activities for the pupils and staff to reflect and respond to what they’ve heard through song making and recording the images and words that resonated most with them.
Sharing lived experiences emphasises to pupils and staff the severity of situations in asylum seekers’ countries of origin. It helps to provide perspective on the relative safety and security of the UK and underscores the need to support asylum seekers with financial aid and compassion.
Listening to the exploits and the bravery of those they meet, the pupils are painted the picture of lives that have been unjustly affected by unrest across the globe. The aim of the project is for young lives to be ‘positively affected’ by meeting people from other countries and cultures firsthand, to remember and carry those experiences with them so that they can share with others they meet.
I always come away with such respect for our facilitators who are able to share the lowest moments of their life. They have had courage and resilience to leave their life behind in hope of finding something better, believing in a yet unknown system of justice in order to find new friends and begin to build a new life.”
It was so powerful - the children and adults were transfixed from start to finish listening to the different life stories. All were friendly and approachable. We couldn’t speak more highly of our time with them and thank them for coming into our school. A powerful service that really moved the children (and adults!) I spoke to multiple children afterwards, who were really inspired by the stories they heard.
Deputy Headteacher
We were delighted to welcome visitors into our classroom this week to tell us about their experiences as refugees and how these experiences have affected them in later life. The children were hugely engaged with the visitors' life stories and it allowed them invaluable insight into the challenges faced by people across who the world who are displaced by war and political reasons. This experience has generated lots of discussion among the children and allowed for sensitive and thoughtful conversations in our PSHE sessions.
Teacher
Such an emotional, thought provoking and inspiring workshop. It certainly puts my own life experiences into perspective. I was moved to tears in parts and the children were engaged and in awe of the bravery and courage of the people involved. Thank you.
Teacher
Pupil feedback
The music made it more exciting and we liked making up our own song. I felt upset when the refugees told their stories but I was glad when they told us they had been welcomed into our country.
The music made it more exciting and we liked making up our own song. I felt upset when the refugees told their stories but I was glad when they told us they had been welcomed into our country.
The music made it more exciting and we liked making up our own song. I felt upset when the refugees told their stories but I was glad when they told us they had been welcomed into our country.
I liked hearing the men's stories and it made us feel sorry for the experiences they had in the past and those suffering now.
I felt scared. I imagined being a refugee. It made me think about how I could help them.
Hearing the stories helped us understand that people like in Ukraine are actual suffering.
My parents had to leave their country before I was born so it made me think about what it was like for them.
We enjoyed getting involved and writing a song about their stories.
I’ll never forget meeting Knud, Ali and Tahmina today.
Curzon Cinema and Arts
The funding of £9,900 from the UKSPF has allowed us to develop a truly exciting programme of screenings and events for our first ‘season’ at Curzon Cinema and Arts. The programme has been curated collaboratively with community groups and local artists and showcases some of the best acts North Somerset has to offer alongside global ideas and world class cinema and art. Crucially, the funding has enabled us to be more ambitious in our programme than we would be if it was purely commercial, which has allowed us to present cutting-edge work and themes alongside timeless classics. Whether you’re a cinephile, a bookworm, or a music buff; there’s something here for everyone!
Andrew Caddy
RENEW
RENEW is the first organisation in Weston set up specifically to provide opportunities to people who want to work but face barriers in finding a job such as language or lack of experience. Thanks to funding from UKSPF, RENEW provides opportunities to get back into a work routine, develop skills, gain a work-based reference and much more. Both paid and unpaid work are good for personal wellbeing, as actively contributing to the community is a satisfying experience. We are always looking for employers who prize the lived experience of our workforce members and are committed to building an inclusive workplace. They could be the next employers of our workforce members!
Karen Lee Roberts
Worker A is a very diligent and personable young man from Weston who has faced struggles in his first two jobs due to no fault of his own. He works for RENEW on a part-time basis as a paid Employment Development Worker. He has been recruiting and interviewing potential workers who have had limited opportunities, doing initial wellbeing assessments and supporting them in job search. He has also been involved in setting up and administration system to keep track of people’s journeys towards wellbeing and financial independence.
RENEW’s workforce member
Worker D arrived in the UK one year ago from Kiev. Her qualifications and experience include diplomas in banking and accounting together with seven years' work experience in these fields in Ukraine. She has attained Level 1 English at Weston College and is currently working in the UK as a cleaner. She’s been offered a part-time bookkeeping job at RENEW with plans in place for a work experience placement at accountant Morgan Hunt.
RENEW’s workforce member
Worker E is a refugee from Iran. Mother of a small baby she was spending most of her time at home when she came to RENEW, where she is being encouraged to work at home doing beautiful paintings for sale through RENEW. She is now employed to manage the fabric reuse team at RENEW making fashionable items out of retro used curtains.
RENEW’s workforce member
Super Culture
Community-led creative projects have been able to grow and thrive in Weston-super-Mare thanks to UKSPF funding.
The UKSPF grant has enabled community led creative provision to grow and thrive in Weston's South and Central Wards, bringing a range of participatory projects, activities and events to the area. These have included the popular Party on the Green festival in July presented by Super Culture and a summer full of creative, environmentally-themed workshops led by South Weston Activity Network (SWAN). SWAN is a charity that co-ordinates activities for children, young people and families in Bournville, Coronation and Oldmixon in Weston. There has also been an on-going programme at Front Room theatre featuring local, rising artists
Tom Newman
Local artists are using their experience at Front Room as a platform from which to build their practice. Local artist Mia Borthwick developed her show ‘I don’t have a maths GCSE’ with Front Room and showcased it at the venue. Artists can talk to audience and community members about the process and the content, helping to develop their shows further. Mia is now taking her show to 5 venues nationally as part of fringe theatre festivals with the intention of touring the show well into 2024.
See www.frontroomwsm.com and www.superculture.org.uk for more information.
Rural England Prosperity Fund
Work is underway in North Somerset to support rural businesses in developing new products and facilities.
Thanks to the government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), £180,000 of funding was made available for capital improvements in North Somerset.
This work addresses challenges rural areas face, such as productivity, limited connectivity and less access to key services.
Hullabaloos Lemonade – scaling up their soft drinks business
Hullabaloos Drinks moved to their current premises in Loxton two years ago and have worked hard to be as natural as possible, creating a wildflower meadow, planting native hedging and regenerating a nature pond to help attract wildlife!
We only use natural ingredients across our range and create as little waste as possible through recycling and reducing packaging. With help and funding from North Somerset Council, we were able to purchase a specialist Bag in Box Filler together with a new mixing tank to scale up production of our Bag in Box range.
Our 10 litre Bag in Boxes are simple and work just like a box of wine! They contain the equivalent of 30 of our 330ml glass bottles and the cardboard and inner bag are recyclable. We are now selling them through our distributors to cafes, pubs and restaurants who can pour a glass of Hullabaloos directly from the box.
As we also sell into several different countries including Dubai, Kuwait and Morocco, we can now ship our drinks in the boxes rather than glass, reducing the weight. It has helped us to reduce costs so we can continue to provide jobs for our team, and we hope to take another team member on soon.
Randa
Lower Laurel House – All weather accessible BBQ Lodge
Coastal Cottage was established in December 2022, providing much needed accessible holiday accommodation. Since opening, the demand and appreciation has been overwhelming! The Cottage was designed around the disabled customer and all equipment and spaces are optimised for a wheelchair user.
After receiving money from REPF, Lower Laurel Farm have been able to develop one of the UK’s first accessible BBQ lodges.
The idea for a BBQ was conceived when discussing with customers how I could make best use of space around the cottage. The British weather isn’t always conducive to BBQs, especially for those with additional considerations. Working collaboratively with Melanie at BBQ Lodges in Somerset we were able to tweak their design to incorporate a lowered threshold, widened doorway and removable benches. Each of these tailored features ensures that the disabled person can fully partake in the BBQing as well as the social aspects that are possible in this unique space!
It would not have been possible to realise the potential of the BBQ lodge without bespoke work undertaken by our landscapers, Jon and Dave Price from Price Brothers in Weston- super-Mare. Jon and Dave worked closely with our other tradespeople to ensure level access was made possible into the Cottage as well as the BBQ Lodge. In addition to providing level access, the finish is great and has drawn many comments from our customers and passers-by alike
Paul Goddard
Hidden Valley Bushcraft – community bee keeping project
Hidden Valley Bushcraft offer a wide range of activities including wilderness living skills, survival and outdoor education, and reconnecting with nature. They also offer day workshops and residential programmes to aid in the recovery of injured veterans, military personnel and emergency service workers (Woodland Warrior Programme).
Thanks to REPF, they have been able to expand their current offering to include a community bee keeping project! Sessions see regular faces from across emergency services and Armed Forces Veterans as well as members of the local community.
During the sessions, volunteers create new hives and tend to the surrounding landscape up at their Woodland Warrior Programme Smallholding.
We are extremely grateful to receive support from North Somerset Council to allow us to purchase new hives and equipment. We have been able to set up a new Beehive Project based in Winford. So far 26 volunteers from the local community are engaged in the project with many of them attending our volunteer sessions throughout the year to help us build new hives and frames as well as preparing the new wildflower meadow.
It has been great to meet so many local, like-minded individuals, and to share my love and knowledge of bees. As an added bonus we are helping the environment in the process!
Louise Goldsmith
Mendip Activity Centre – accessible target sport ranges
Mendip is a 250-acre outdoor activity centre near Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, offering over 25 activities for individuals, groups, schools and families. Established in 1987, Mendip Activity Centre has grown into the biggest outdoor activity provider in the South West!
We are delighted to have received a REPF grant from North Somerset Council to allow us to build four new target sport ranges. These purpose built, covered ranges are fully accessible and enable individuals with additional physical and learning needs to try archery or air rifle shooting. It also means North Somerset residents can come and try archery or air rifle shooting under cover for the first time! My team worked extremely hard to ensure the new ranges were open in time for the Easter Holidays.