ReNEW Small Grants Reopen

Creative leaders, businesses, charities, and voluntary groups are invited to apply for small grants to bring Redditch’s redundant and unusual spaces to life.

The ReNEW Small Grants are part of the work of ReNEW, a partnership of local business, arts, heritage, environment, youth, and community groups. ReNEW is the largest participation programme of the Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire.

The selecting committee are particularly looking for projects that help tell people’s stories and create pride in a place.

There are grants available between £500 and £2,000. Grants are for projects which will bring creative activities to spaces in Redditch for people aged 16 and over.

Projects where the activities proposed align with the Heritage Open Days festival are being encouraged, and an accelerated outcome will be given to those who apply for a ReNEW Small Grant by 22 July.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Cllr. Juliet Barker Smith, said: “The first round of the ReNEW Small Grants were really successful and the impact of those activities has been brilliant to see. I encourage anyone who has even an inkling of a project idea to get in touch with the ReNEW Team to see how you can be matched with other Compact members to make your creative idea a reality, and part of the drive to change our town for the better."

The deadline for submitting applications not related to the Heritage Open Days festival is 2 September.

ReNEW aims to increase participation in arts and creative activities, especially in those communities where there are more barriers to participation. Nurturing new relationships between local businesses and community groups to encourage new and innovative ways of delivering activities.

Chair of the Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire, Jane Earl, said: “ReNEW is a really important strand of the work being accomplished by the Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire. These small grants play a vital role in empowering those in our compact and within the community to bring activities to fruition that encourage residents to feel pride in their local areas.”

In the first round of grants nine projects were successful in being awarded funds, 4 in Redditch. The projects were wide ranging in their activities from the British Asian’s Women’s Group, based at Sandy Croft, creating a community garden to Feckenham Parish Council working with artist Julian Bull to enhance the appearance of Church Walk and memorialising the fallen trees removed as a part of work undertaken in Feckenham Church grounds.

Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Cllr. Joe Baker, said: “The ReNEW Small Grants are an excellent opportunity for groups to bring to fruition projects that they’ve previously been unable to because of financial restraints. The upper limit being doubled in this round compared to the previous to £2,000 means there is real scope for big projects to take place. I am very excited to see what can be achieved for our town thanks to this grants programme.”

The RENEW Small Grants project has received £33,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

For more information and an application form please visit https://www.redditchbc.gov.uk/renew/small-grants-programme/ or contact the team on renew@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk.