Five Links Constructing Communities provided the  £180,000   funding for the construction of the neighbourhood resource through the Single Regeneration Budget  allocation for the Five Links estate with a further £20,000 allocated towards the furnishings and fittings.

 

Essex County Council as the landowners of the site arranged the payments for the design brief, planning requirements , commissioned the build and control the funding of the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative which was  allocated total funding of £373,300 over the 3 years 2004/ 07.

              

 

    Single Regeneration Budget

The SRB, which began in 1994, brought together a number of programmes from several Government Departments with the aim of simplifying and streamlining the assistance available for regeneration.

SRB provides resources to support regeneration initiatives in England carried out by local regeneration partnerships with the  priority of enhancing the quality of life of local people in areas of need by reducing the gap between deprived and other areas, and between different groups. It supports initiatives that build on best practice and represent good value for money. The types of bid supported differ from place to place, according to local circumstances. In order to obtain funding, organisations have to demonstrate that their bid meets one or more of the eligible objectives, for example, the Round 6 Bidding Guidance (SRB6) which enabled the funding for the community regeneration of the Five Links estate and the subsequent capital costs of the neighbourhood resource building provided for:

 

·      improving the employment prospects, education and skills of local  people;

·      addressing social exclusion and improving opportunities for the disadvantaged;

·      promoting sustainable regeneration, improving and protecting the environment and infrastructure, including  housing;

·      supporting and promoting growth in local economies and businesses;

·      reducing crime and drug abuse and improving community safety.

 

Schemes aimed at tackling the problems faced by communities in the most deprived neighbourhoods are also normally expected to include the following four key objectives:

 

·      tackling 'worklessness' eg. establishing local employment initiatives

·      reducing crime

·      improving health

·      raising educational achievements