UKSPF Evaluation, Case Studies and Resources

You will find here a summary of the UKSPF external evaluation, case studies and additional guidance and resources.

UKSPF Highlights and Impact Report (April 2022 - March 2025)

The first phase of Sunderland's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme was delivered between April 2022 and March 2025, with most activities continuing to March 2026 under a second phase of the programme. The primary goal of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is to foster pride in place and enhance life opportunities by focusing investments in three main areas:

• Communities and Place
• Supporting Local Business
• People and Skills

The UKSPF Highlights and Impact Report provides a summary of phase 1 progress up to March 2025 including a profile of each project supported during this phase. Projects supported under the second phase continue to build on achievements and successes to date.

UKSPF Highlights and Impact Report

UKSPF Sunderland - External Evaluation (Phase 1)

The evaluation of phase 1 outputs/outcomes has identified strong delivery against Sunderland's UKSPF Investment Plan targets, with many excellent case studies and examples of good practice identified. The external evaluation has also identified partnership-working and innovation as key factors in successful project delivery. Key deliverables reported include:

·       1,075,531 people reached through community and place activities

·       226 community-led arts, cultural, heritage and creative programmes delivered as a result of support

·       338 organisations (VCSE) receiving financial and/or non-financial support

·       1,272 businesses supported financial and/or non-financial support

·       368 jobs created or safeguarded

·       1,213 people in employment engaging with the skills system

·       576 economically inactive people sustaining engagement with keyworker support and additional services

The Executive Summary of the external programme evaluation up to March 2025 can be found below, along with a series of project and beneficiary case studies.

UKSPF External Evaluation - Executive Summary

UKSPF External Evaluation - Project Case Studies

UKSPF External Evaluation - Beneficiary Case Studies

UKSPF Sunderland Guidance

UKSPF Sunderland Funding Guidance

UKSPF Sunderland Branding and Publicity Guidance

Sunderland UKSPF Investment Plan - Executive Summary

UKSPF Sunderland Evidence Base Review

Sunderland UKSPF Project Assurance Diagram

UKSPF Output and Outcome Evidence Guidance

Supporting Local Business UKSPF eligibility FAQs

UKSPF National Guidance

The Government's Autumn Budget 2024 announced a transition year of UKSPF funding for 2025/26 to support local investment across the three key Investment Priorities.

Following this, Government published the new allocations for lead local authorities in December 2024, with additional UKSPF grant for 2025/26 to be allocated for delivery across the region through the North East Combined Authority. Details of the allocations and the methodology used by Government can be found here. A Technical Note update to the UKSPF Prospectus was also published and can be found here.

The Government's updated guidance builds on the original published UKSPF guidance issued by the Conservative Government in July 2022. This includes information on:

• Outcome and Output Definitions - including an updated list of outputs and outcomes
• Reporting and Performance Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Assurance and Risk
• Branding and Publicity
• Subsidy Control
• Procurement
• Equalities

This is available on the GOV.UK UK Shared Prosperity Fund: additional information webpage.

Please contact us at [email protected] for any general enquiries on UKSPF or if you have any questions or require further information.