Apply for our new funding scheme in partnership with Reading Borough Council

Area: Reading
Deadline: Monday 16 September 2024

Taking part in creative activity, especially with other people, boosts wellbeing and makes you feel more connected to the place you live in. Creative Lives is working with Reading Borough Council to support local opportunities for creativity, and we're offering grants to help you make this happen. 

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we're inviting applications from arts or community groups to fund opportunities for everyone to get involved in creative activities.

Earlier in 2024, we distributed 32 grants to support creative activities and encourage residents to feel connected to Reading.

In this new round, there are two funding programmes available:

• Boost 2 Fund - grants of up to £500 for creative activities in Church and Whitley
• Reading Creative Partnerships Fund - to build stronger connections within Reading’s creative community

Applications will open on 30 July 2024 and you'll need to apply by 16 September 2024. 

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Boost 2 Funding | £500 

For creative activities in Whitley and Church Wards, Reading

What we hope to fund:

• We want to fund more creative activities in Church and Whitley for a broader range of people. This can be through delivering new activities or increasing participation in current activities.
• You could deliver new creative activities aimed at a specific diverse group (we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in Whitley and Church).
• You could use the funds to ensure current activity is welcoming and accessible (funds for translation, food, transport, accessibility, marketing, etc)
• You could invite new and diverse artists or practitioners from outside of the ward to deliver activity within the ward that is diverse and wide-reaching.

How to apply

Please read the Boost 2 Fund | Application Guidance (.pdf) before making an application.

To apply, please complete the Boost 2 Fund | Application Form (online form). 

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].

Who can apply?

The fund is open to constituted not-for-profit arts or community groups, or organisations, with a bank account in their name.

Boost Funding is also open to un-constituted, informal groups who can provide a not-for-profit organisation that will manage the funds for them (up to £500) or an individual who can demonstrate their connection to the group and is prepared to use their personal bank account (up to £300).

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Reading Creative Partnerships Fund

To build stronger connections within Reading's creative community and develop confidence to apply for funding

We want to support stronger connections between groups in Reading and build the confidence of grassroots creative and community groups to apply for further funding.  

We want to fund:

• Partnerships between different types of groups e.g. a larger established organisation working with a small un-constituted group, or a creative group working with a grassroots community organisation.
• Creative activities that enable both partners to combine their resources and do something they would not be able to do alone.
• Ideas that have the potential to provide a lasting legacy of some sort - such as trialling a new creative activity that could be sustained by volunteers or earned income; developing a new partnership that could work together beyond this one project; testing a new way of working that others could learn from etc.
• Ideas that will broaden the range of people who are accessing creative activities in Reading.

How to apply

Please read the Reading Creative Partnerships Fund | Application Guidance (.pdf) before making an application.

To apply, please complete the Reading Creative Partnerships Fund | Expression of Interest Form (online form). 

If your Expression of Interest (EOI) is successful you will need to be available to work with someone from Creative Lives to develop your idea further during October 2024. This is likely to be 2-3 online meetings and some time from you to prepare a more detailed proposal. Please let us know of any additional support you may need in order to do this.  

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]. 

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Grants Information Session | Wednesday 14 August, 12-1pm

Learn more about the funding scheme and ask your questions. Register here for a free online information session open to anyone interested in applying for the grants programme. 

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Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund