32 creative projects in Reading receive Seed Fund grants from Creative Lives
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
The Engine Room
An intergenerational zine project on Dee Park Estate - £1,000
Whitley Library
To purchase materials and resources to enable a series of creative events at the library - £1,000
Whitley Knit Wits
To enable the weekly Knit and Natter group to extend their activities and offer new sessions for children - £1,000
Art Therapy Whitley
To offer new art therapy sessions at Whitley Community Development Association - £1,000
Peaceful Beginnings
To support drop in craft sessions at St Paul's Hall - £1,000
Giddhasize
To launch new Giddha (South Asian Dance) classes in Whitley - £1,000
Progress Theatre
To support access costs for an inclusive production of Under Milk Wood - £1,000
Whitley Community Museum
To create an audio tour of Fobney Nature and Wetland Reserve - £1,000
Aspire2
To build giant articulated puppets with Whitley residents - £1,000
Whitley Film
To offer film editing workshops in conjunction with Reading University - £1,000
Reading Hongkongers CIC
To support a participatory theatre production about experience of Hongkongers moving to the UK - £1,000
Green Health Thames Valley
For arts workshops with a horticultural therapy group - £500
Reading Golders Luncheon Club
To support creative activities for their weekly lunch club - £500
Apollo Youth Club
Towards indoor craft market and workshops - £500
Green Ways
For sewing workshop and materials/equipment - £500
Reading Kindness Rocks
To buy materials to enable the group to expand into Whitley - £500
Assisting Berkshire Children to read
For reading related creative activities for the school holidays - £500
Greater Reading Nepalese Community Association
For creative activities for Nepalese young people - £500
Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain
For materials to make costumes and a new violin for the Ukrainian choir - £500
The Rock Academy Foundation
To support half term music activities at Whitley Community Cafe - £500
103rd Reading Oxford Road Scouts
To buy materials and equipment to enable the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to learn creative skills - £500
Readings Poets Cafe
To run poetry workshops - £500
Utulivu Women’s Group
To buy materials to enable women to share their creative skills with others - £500
WhitArts Community Group
To run creative workshops at St Agnes Church - £500
Iota Events
To create a scholarship for people of colour who would like to perform in drag - £500
Berkshire Culture Connect
To buy mobile podcast equipment to capture local stories of acts of kindness - £300
Nature Nurture
For creative sessions in schools inspired by nature in the Cowsey - £2,000
Reading Rep Theatre
To deliver theatre workshops in two Whitley schools - £2,000
Jelly
To pilot creative sessions for young people who are struggling to engage with school - £2,000
Whitley Library
To deliver creative activities for two Infants Schools - £2,000
Anurita Chandola
For upcycling fashion workshop with a Whitley School - £1,000
Rabble Theatre
For playwriting workshops in schools - £1,000
