News & Opportunities News 32 creative projects in Reading receive Seed Fund grants Grants Awarded for Creative Activity in Reading Creative Lives, in partnership with Reading Borough Council, is proud to announce the full list of Seed Fund grants to support creative activities and encourage residents to feel connected to Reading. We received 61 applications, and awarded 32 grants totalling £28,300. The grants are part of Reading Borough Council’s commitment to provide opportunities for everyone to get involved in creative activities where they live and enhance community engagement. Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture, said: "Creative activities play a crucial role in fostering community connections and individual well-being. The Seed Funding for Creative Activities initiative is a fantastic opportunity for local groups and businesses to bring people together through imaginative projects. "The benefits to people this money will bring is just fantastic and I’m really looking forward to hearing back and seeing the difference this funding makes." Reading Seed Funds - List of Awards Organisation Award Project The Engine Room £1,000 An intergenerational zine project on Dee Park Estate. Whitley Library £1,000 To purchase materials and resources to enable a series of creative events at the library. Whitley Knit Wits £1,000 To enable the weekly Knit and Natter group to extend their activities and offer new sessions for children. Art Therapy Whitley £1,000 To offer new art therapy sessions at Whitley Community Development Association Peaceful Beginnings £1,000 To support drop in craft sessions at St Paul's Hall Giddhasize £1,000 To launch new Giddha (South Asian Dance) classes in Whitley Progress Theatre £1,000 To support access costs for an inclusive production of Under Milk Wood Whitley Community Museum £1,000 To create an audio tour of Fobney Nature and Wetland Reserve. Aspire2 £1,000 To build giant articulated puppets with Whitley residents. Whitley Film £1,000 To offer film editing workshops in conjunction with Reading University Reading Hongkongers CIC £1,000 To support a participatory theatre production about experience of Hongkongers moving to the UK Green Health Thames Valley £500 For arts workshops with a horticultural therapy group Reading Golders Luncheon Club £500 To support creative activities for their weekly lunch club Apollo Youth Club £500 Towards indoor craft market and workshops Green Ways £500 For sewing workshop and materials/equipment Reading Kindness Rocks £500 To buy materials to enable the group to expand into Whitley. Assisting Berkshire Children to read £500 For reading related creative activities for the school holidays Greater Reading Nepalese Community Association £500 For creative activities for Nepalese young people Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain £500 For materials to make costumes and a new violin for the Ukrainian choir The Rock Academy Foundation £500 To support half term music activities at Whitley Community Cafe 103rd Reading Oxford Road Scouts £500 To buy materials and equipment to enable the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to learn creative skills. Readings Poets Cafe £500 To run poetry workshops Utulivu Women’s Group £500 To buy materials to enable women to share their creative skills with others WhitArts Community Group £500 To run creative workshops at St Agnes Church Iota Events £500 To create a scholarship for people of colour who would like to perform in drag Berkshire Culture Connect £300 To buy mobile podcast equipment to capture local stories of acts of kindness Nature Nurture £2,000 For creative sessions in schools inspired by nature in the Cowsey Reading Rep Theatre £2,000 To deliver theatre workshops in two Whitley schools Jelly £2,000 To pilot creative sessions for young people who are struggling to engage with school Whitley Library £2,000 To deliver creative activities for two Infants Schools Anurita Chandola £1,000 For upcycling fashion workshop with a Whitley School Rabble Theatre £1,000 For playwriting workshops in schools Manage Cookie Preferences