Creative groups to be helped by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s microgrant scheme

Cheshire West and Chester Council is supporting at least ten more creative activities led by local groups. Creative Lives will be accepting applications for up to £500 on a rolling basis, until February 2022 or until all funding is allocated. 

The third and final round of Kickstart Voluntary Art microgrants are part of the Council’s Re-opening and Recovery Programme for rural areas and local communities, the Council are working with Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network and Creative Lives, to offer grants to support creative activity across the borough. 

Full application details are available at: www.creative-lives.org/cheshire-west-microgrants-kickstart-voluntary-art 

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “I’m very pleased to say that Round two of the Kickstart Voluntary Art has supported a further nine groups to launch activities with the help of their Microgrant. 

“We are now accepting applications for the third and final round, successful applications will be notified within ten working days of their submission. There is so much creativity across our communities I’m sure these remaining grants will be snapped up by more exciting projects.” 

The projects supported in round two were: 

• The Neuromuscular Centre, Winsford, delivering arts and crafts supporting physical dexterity and social connection
• Brightlights Theatre Company (for the over 50s, Neston) performance based on Scrooge at the outdoor Christmas market on 17 December and offered to other venues.
• Pavilion Art group, Chester, reconnecting a local arts group at Upton Pavilion
• KMTC, Northwich and Wincham, restarting regular rehearsals safely with existing and new members
• Deva Flamenco, Chester, offering free ‘have a go flamenco’ at Storyhouse in January
• 1st Ness Brownies, Neston, will replenish their craft supplies following lock-down, to create Christmas cards for care homes locally
• Words for Wellbeing - Listen to Our Voices, Chester, will offer creative writing and storytelling for homeless individuals locally
• Poets in Paint Community Interest Company, Ellesmere Port, running a public craft session on 18 December, at a festive morning at Trinity Methodist Church
• Theatre in the Quarter will run creative tasters, with groups that will be invited to be part of the Jubilee Community Film for Cheshire, Chester, bringing together generations to reflect on the changes that have taken place during the Queen’s reign. 

For details of recipients of the first round of grants visit: www.creative-lives.org/News/cheshire-west-microgrants-projects-launch

The Reopening and Recovery programme is funded by the Governments Additional Restrictions Grant to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network aims to support, promote and advocate for Voluntary Arts organisations and their activities across the borough. 

Creative Lives (formerly Voluntary Arts) is a national charity dedicated to championing community and volunteer-led creative activity and working to improve opportunities for everyone to be creative.  They are supporting applicants and distributing grants between £200 and £500 to eligible groups in rural areas and districts.