Sports and arts projects in West Suffolk get almost £40,000 worth of new funding
The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds is among groups to benefit
More than £39,000 of government funding has been allocated to West Suffolk projects, with a focus on sports and drama.
The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds has gained the greatest amount from the £39,404 of UK shared prosperity fund (UKSPF) dealt out by West Suffolk Council.
The theatre was awarded £14,702 for two projects: a youth theatre programme for eight- to 22-year-olds and an ‘Act Your Age’ drama programme for over 55s.
The government’s UKSPF was set up to help with ‘levelling up’. West Suffolk Council has been given £1,943,467 from the fund over three years.
Cllr Robert Everitt, West Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for families and communities, said: “Encouraging participation, whether through sport activity or creative arts, can bring huge benefits to people’s health and wellbeing, social connections and sense of belonging.
“So, we are delighted to be able to use some of the money that we have received from UKSPF, to invest in and support this important work.”
West Suffolk Council has been allocated £1,943,467 over three years through the UKSPF.
A ‘Fit Villages’ programme aiming to encourage people in rural areas to socialise and be more active has been given £12,702 of UKSPF money.
Laura Spooner, senior development officer (health and wellbeing) at Active Suffolk, said: “Working with West Suffolk Council on such a project meets our collective goal of facilitating opportunities for more people to become active.
“We want everyone to understand the physical and mental health benefits of regular physical activity and ensure there is equal opportunity for all – regardless of location or needs.”
You can register an interest in making your area a ‘Fit Village’ by visiting Active Suffolk’s website or ask questions via fitvillages@activesuffolk.org.
Next under the ‘Fit Villages’ according to the amount of money awarded is the £10,000 for Community Action Suffolk, to enable them to support potential community groups with creating feasibility studies.
The final project is a Newmarket sports and clubs fair for children aged seven to 14, which will gain £2,000.
The event, the first of its kind since 2012, is intended to “demonstrate what is out there for young people and result in flourishing organisations filled with participants and volunteers,” according to Ian Jackson from the Forest Heath Primary Schools’ Sports Association.
The fair will run between 9.30am and 4.30pm on May 19 at Newmarket Leisure Centre.
Cllr Jo Rayner, cabinet member for leisure and culture at West Suffolk Council, said: “We have a strong mix of leisure and culture partners across West Suffolk, so I am delighted we can support their work using UKSPF funds.
“This will help bring benefits to the lives of residents of all ages.”
Yesterday, West Suffolk Council’s cabinet gave the go-ahead for the initial leisure centre phase of Western Way in Bury St Edmunds to proceed with tendering.