As part of Cheshire West and Chester’s Re-opening and Recovery Programme for rural areas and local communities, the council committed to working with Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network and Creative Lives, to offer microgrants to kickstart creative activity happening in communities across the borough.

The funding was open to all creative and cultural forms, to support any costs required to meet at least one of the funding aims:

• Enabling activity to restart
• Celebrating the local high street
• Bringing communities together
• Ensure people can participate safely

£18,000 was committed to offer £200 - £500 microgrants that would help local groups start, or restart, creative activities in their communities, recognising the valuable role that these play in building community and wellbeing. Claire Sharple, England Development Officer (North West) at Creative Lives said: 

It was great to play this role in supporting small groups at a time when many needed the additional encouragement as they continued to deal with so much uncertainty. It’s wonderful that Cheshire West and Chester Council saw the value in supporting this activity in communities across the region and it was a pleasure to work with all those involved in setting up the variety of inspiring creative and cultural initiatives.

Read the full publication below or download the PDF file [2.16 MB].