Boost for Liverpool community groups
More than 30 of Liverpool’s grassroots organisations which aim to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities are being awarded vital grants.
In May, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) announced that there was £150,000 worth of funding to be awarded to organisations which could develop a project to reinforce the five themes of the Decade of Health and Wellbeing which are:
Connect…
Be active…
Take notice…
Keep learning…
Give…
Following a competitive application process, 34 not-for-profit groups who are involved in arts and cultural activities have been selected to benefit from the grant. These include:
Anthony Walker Foundation - Spray it, Don’t Say it
This project aims to engage with young people, encouraging them to express themselves through the art of graffiti with the help of a mobile canvas which will tour youth clubs and public areas. People will be asked to do their part to combat racism by delivering street art which celebrates cultural diversity and contains a strong an anti-racism message.
The Suitcase Ensemble - Look at Us Now
This is a professional production inspired by childhood dreams, lost glories and the unsung history of the Edge Hill British Rail Brass Band. There will be a programme of participatory opportunities and outreach with local communities, aiming to engage and inspire those with little access to contemporary theatre.
Urban Revolt Media - Angels With Dirty Faces: Postcode Criminals
This initiative will use photography and moving image to help young people express their feelings and experiences of living on disadvantaged estates. Young people will carry out research, identifying issues affecting their neighbourhood, and expressing them through art works which will be featured by the Bluecoat and NML for the Biennial 2012.
The Sound Agents – Project Chinatown
A series of radio programme workshops will be carried out in The Black-E and The Wah Sing to train the community on how to write, record, edit and upload programmes to an internet radio station. The workshops will be professionally photographed and will be exhibited at Chinese New Year in the Black-E with a sound work of programmes aired in the Dome.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, councillor Wendy Simon, said: “Grassroots funding is all about working with smaller organisations to bring the benefits of culture and art to those individuals who may not normally engage with the city’s cultural programme.
“Culture contributes enormously to people’s health, and it’s essential we work in partnership with the PCT to ensure that the Decade of Health and Wellbeing has a real, positive impact on our communities. This programme gives 34 groups the opportunity to tackle key issues in a creative way, and as a result extend the reach and awareness of the decade.
“Our investments will pay dividends in terms of the health, social and personal development of those involved.”
Gideon Ben-Tovim, chair of Liverpool PCT said: “We are delighted that so many grassroots organisations are benefiting from the Culture and Wellbeing Grass Roots Grants programme.
“The grants being made available will provide community organisations with an opportunity to make their own contribution to improving the city’s health and wellbeing through culture and the arts. I’m sure the projects will make a real difference to those who are involved with them.”
The Culture and Wellbeing Grass Roots Grants programme is in its second year, the first year during the Year of Health and Wellbeing was a huge success with over 60,000 people benefiting from over 900 events, large and small.
