Medway Council’s cabinet has approved a series of programmes using millions of pounds of central government funding for local projects.

The funding is to be used for local events and improving amenities, helping adults to gain maths skills, and developing facilities in rural areas.

The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) launched the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in April 2022 which will provide £1.2 million to the Towns for this financial year.

Over the past two years, Medway has received a total of £675,000 which funded events such as the Chatham Town Centre Forum’s Chinese New Year celebrations and initiatives by Mutual Aid Road Reps to fight loneliness.

The funding from DLUHC aims to build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK.

An application event for businesses and community groups to gain UKSPF funding is due to take place on May 1 at Rochester Corn Exchange. Click here for tickets.

Medway Council also approved plans to use £400,000 from DLUHC’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to support 10 small and medium-sized enterprises and a community hub on the Hoo Peninsula.

The authority has also been allocated £509,000 by the DfE for Medway’s Multiply programme which helps people aged 19 and older to gain maths skills and improve their employment prospects.

In January, a study estimated that a quarter of the Towns’ residents struggle with foundational maths and english.

The Multiply programme, which will enter its third year, has already helped over 750 people to improve their numeracy skills through activities such as gardening, pottery, and other crafts which seek to make learning fun and relatable.

Multiply also offers interventions around bookkeeping, managing a budget, Excel spreadsheets, and tips on how to help children with numeracy.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting on April 9, the authority’s portfolio holder for education, Cllr Tracy Coombs (Lab), praised the work Medway Adult Education (MEA) had done with the Multiply programme to help adults gain skills.

She said: “Dan Ratcliffe [Medway Council’s head of skills, employment and adult education] at MEA has done a really fantastic job at getting the best value for money from the allocation

“We know there can be a bit of stigma attached to adult learning and it’s impressive how he’s engaged those hard to reach people.

“It’s really so important that adults who are not confident with their numeracy are able to improve, it helps their employability and it means they’re more equipped to help their children with their learning.”

Council leader Vince Maple also celebrated the achievements of the scheme so far.

He said: “We can see dozens and dozens of really brilliant applications, those which have been successful and the equally brilliant ones there unfortunately aren’t resources for.

“I really like the focus on skills this year. I think it’s about spending this money in a way which has so much positive impact, both for individuals and organisations and our wider community.”