TENDRING will benefit from more than £2.5million from a Government fund aimed at “levelling-up” flagging communities.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has announced £4.4million from the Community Renewal Fund for seven innovative projects in Essex as part of a bid to breathe new life into towns, villages and coastal communities.

It includes £480,807 for the Pathways to Diagnostics Trailblazer project, which will see Colchester Institute and the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust help to provide residents in Tendring with skills to support job opportunities created within the new community diagnostics hub at Clacton Hospital.

There is also £510,313 for the Planting the Seeds for Growth scheme, which will be delivered by Abberton Rural Training and provide residents in the district with access to support and training to overcome the negative impact of Covid-19 on their work and physical and mental health.

The Harlow and Tendring Retrofit Pipeline for Economic Renewal scheme has also been awarded £717,060.

It will see the Retrofit Academy work in partnership with Essex County Council to support residents and businesses to create jobs and growth from making private properties more energy efficient.

Neil Stock, leader of Tendring Council, said: “This funding will really help us to better connect and support our community in a range of ways – from apprenticeships in horticulture, to building careers in healthcare and upskilling businesses.

“The fact the Government has pledged £2.6million to our district is recognition of the existing fantastic work we do, and how we can do even more with the application of extra funding.

“We look forward to getting moving on these projects working closely with our partners, especially Essex County Council.”

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Happy - Tendring Council leader Neil Stock welcomed the grants

The other projects in Essex to benefit include the Digital Skills Transformation for Essex’s High Streets scheme, which will receive £756,560, and the Essex IAG Connect scheme has been awarded £720,541 and will be delivered by Adult Community Learning.

Louise McKinlay, deputy leader of Essex County Council, said: “This announcement means our ambitions to level up Essex are off to a flying start, driving our aim to create prosperity across all of our county.

“It’s great news for the businesses and residents of Harlow and Tendring, particularly the local people who will benefit from the opportunity to gain the skills they will need to secure the jobs of the future.”