News - Supporting the community sector through UKSPF funding

Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) has delivered various projects through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), supporting the community sector and distributing much-needed funding to organisations.

There were three key strands to CWVA’s UKSPF programme, supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council and UK Government.

• £43,000 in grants for 12 community sector organisations to deliver creative arts projects
• CWVA’s Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) Alliance hosting its first marketplace event and second annual conference
• Training for community sector organisations, including quarterly sessions focusing on how organisations can demonstrate their impact to maximise income streams

Across the creative arts projects, 132 events or activities were held in total, reaching nearly 1,100 people. Projects included the following and many more.

• The Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network (CWVAN) Awards brought together more than 80 people to celebrate inspiring projects, organisations, leaders and volunteers who bring creativity to life across local communities.
• Little Actors Theatre Company ran weekly workshops, engaging more than 50 people in theatre on a regular basis.
• Radiate Arts delivered a Hidden Histories project, working with 14 older people across three care homes, and supporting them to share and record their life stories in a calm, dementia-inclusive way.
• Changing Lives Together held Crafternoon Tea sessions in Northwich and Winsford, offering participants an engaging programme of creative craft activities followed by a delicious afternoon tea.
• Vicars Cross Community Centre helped young creatives develop their filmmaking skills through location management, filming, editing, costume design, production and publicity design.

The CYPF Alliance marketplace and conference engaged 102 and 68 people respectively. Across the two events, 97 per cent of attendees rated them as either excellent or good, while 85 per cent said they had formed new connections. 95 per cent of conference attendees learned new something from the workshops and guest speakers.

UKSPF helped CWVA deliver a range of training for community sector organisations, with 43 people attending across four sessions that focused on demonstrating impact. Out of those who completed feedback, all attendees rated the training as either excellent or good, while 86 per cent said it had helped them learn something new.

Gary Cliffe, Chief Executive of CWVA, commented: “Not only has this funding helped CWVA deliver two excellent events for our CYPF Alliance, bringing together partners from across different sectors, but it has also supported our training offer for community sector organisations.

“A key part of CWVA’s work is to lever in funding and opportunities for the community sector so the £43,000 in grants has provided a welcomed boost for organisations working on arts-related projects.

“The projects have been varied, working with a wide range of people and groups in local communities to create a lasting impact.”