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Eight organisations in South Tyneside are set to benefit from a share of £8.8m government funding to support growth and prosperity in the Borough.

The projects have each been selected to receive a slice of the first year's allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, following a stringent appraisal process which included independent evaluation.

Last year the council invited organisations to submit proposals that could meet the scheme's objectives priorities of Communities and Place, Local Business and People and Skills and complement key local growth priorities. More than 100 expressions of interest were received.

Now eight projects have been identified that can deliver on the three-year fund's themes such as town centres, culture, business support, green spaces, fuel poverty, digital inclusion, anti-social behaviour, and community engagement.

Cllr Margaret Meling, Lead Member for Economic Growth, Skills and Climate Change, said: "The projects selected are all ready to hit the ground running and deliver maximum impact in the borough, particularly in the first year of the fund, complementing the ongoing work of the council.

"These initiatives align with some of our five ambitions, helping to address the cost of living crisis; boosting our efforts in tackling anti-social behaviour; supporting businesses and connecting people to jobs.

"They also meet the Fund's investment priorities of Communities and Place, Local Business and People and Skills."

The eight projects are:

• Hospitality & Hope: Community Shops to expand the provision of healthy, affordable food and the provision of wider support services

• Tyne Rivers Trust: River Therapy project with a clear programme of practical conservation focused on transforming four abandoned areas of green spaces

• Big Local Jarrow: Community centre and wellness hub, expansion of programme and enable more people to access activities and meeting places

• Â鶹ÊÓƵ: Introduction of a Business and Community Response Team to work daily with businesses, shoppers, residents and partners.

• The Wise Group: Creation of a Home Energy Advice Team to provide mentoring support and advocacy to help fuel-poor households

• Â鶹ÊÓƵ: Public Art and community outreach/school engagement to improve the public realm in Hebburn town centre

• TEDCO Business Support: Building Futures Start-Up Programme to help create start-ups and engage with people in disadvantaged areas to reduce worklessness

• Â鶹ÊÓƵ: Establishment of a South Tyneside Care Academy

Further projects will be identified to benefit from the second and third year allocations of the scheme.

UKSPF is the three-year successor to European Structural and Investment Funds