Government supports South West with £3billion funding since start of pandemic

Wiltshire as a whole has received over £282million, including over £233million in support for businesses. As part of this Swindon Borough Council has received £94.26m. Separately, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has also received funding.

Total government support for local government and communities since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic is almost £27billion. This includes direct support for local authorities, emergency funding to support rough sleepers, business rates relief, grants for small business and support for local transport systems. 

Communities and businesses across the South West have benefitted from £3billion in government funding since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, helping to support some of the most vulnerable people and the sectors that have been hardest hit.

Of the £3billion, more than £2.5billion is helping to support the region’s businesses.

In total, the government has announced almost £27billion for local communities since the start of March.

This includes billions of pounds in grants for small businesses and business rates reliefs for industries such as hospitality and leisure that have not been able to operate during lockdown.

As part of this, local authorities across England have received an unprecedented level of additional support, sharing £3.2billion in direct grants and a further £600million to help prevent transmission in care settings.

This has meant local councils have had the resources they need to respond to any additional pressures created by coronavirus and been able to continue providing essential services, such as adult social care and children’s services.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We said at the start of the pandemic that we would make sure our councils and communities had the resources they need to respond to the coronavirus, and that’s exactly what we have done.

“In total, we have provided almost £27billion, including £3billion in the South West, to help local communities weather this difficult period, providing additional financial support in the form of grants, business rates relief and direct support for councils on a scale that is unprecedented in living memory.

“Council workers across the country are working tirelessly to ensure this support gets to where it needs to be, helping local people and businesses to navigate this difficult period.

“They are the unsung heroes of this crisis and we are all incredibly grateful for the huge contribution they are making to their communities.”