Groups organising festivals and events in Westmorland and Furness can now apply for grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 from a £100,000 fund from Westmorland and Furness Council. But the deadline for applications is just over a month away on the 26th June requiring eligible organisations and groups to act quick if they meet the strict criteria for eligibility.
Westmorland and Furness Council's grant scheme is aimed at supporting organisers to improve their events or festivals, as well as promoting community, place and the environment.
Voluntary and community-led businesses, social enterprises, charities, town and parish councils and other constituted groups can apply to the fund for established or new events or festivals.
The grants are aimed at improving events and festivals' functionality, sustainability and accessibility and applicants must demonstrate that grants will lead to improved numbers and engagement, as well as new volunteering opportunities.
The council's Events and Festivals Grants scheme is one of 22 projects sharing £8.1 million from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), allocated by Westmorland and Furness Council.
Councillor Virginia Taylor, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet member for Sustainable Communities and Localities, said: "There are too many festivals, shows, and events in Westmorland and Furness to get to – often organised by and for local people and celebrating an enormous breadth of interests, skills, traditions; and sometimes just for fun. I really admire people’s imagination, know-how and energy as they put in the hard work making things happen in the place they live. It’s really great that these events bring people together, sharing skills, getting to know each other better, and pooling resources to prepare and run the project – and that’s not including the people who’ll enjoy the day. Local events really do embody the ‘Sustainable Communities and Localities’ that are the name of my portfolio.
“The Events and Festivals Grants scheme will go some way to helping organisers and volunteers to making great things happen in, with, and for their community, and I would urge anybody organising a community festival or event to have a look at the criteria – I do hope that your project can take advantage of the scheme.”
There will be only one round of applications for the Events and Festival Grants with the deadline for applications just over a month away on the 26th of June 2024 and all grants must be spent by March 2025.
Find out more and apply at https://goto.penrith.town/WAF-Events-and-Festivals-Grants-Guide-and-application