Our Porto selected by Cheshire West and Chester Council for the UK Shared Prosperity funding
Theatre Porto is thrilled to be one of the 26 projects selected by Cheshire West and Chester Council for UK Shared Prosperity funding. With over £2 million allocated regionally, our share of the funding will not only boost arts, culture, and regeneration but also provide crucial support to the most vulnerable members of our community during the cost-of-living crisis.
As part of the Council’s commitment to inclusive economy and regeneration, these awards will have a profound impact on revitalizing town centers and aiding residents facing financial challenges. We are grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the vitality of Ellesmere Port.
The funding encompasses various geographic areas within the borough, benefiting communities across Cheshire West and Chester. We are proud to be included in this remarkable initiative alongside other exceptional projects.
Theatre Porto will utilise the support to expand our outreach and community activities in Ellesmere Port, bringing more arts and culture to the borough through a programme called Our Porto. This funding will enable us to make a lasting difference and foster creativity within our community.
We thank Cheshire West and Chester Council for their commitment to supporting the most vulnerable and creating a brighter future for all. Together, we will make a tangible difference by improving access to essential services and addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities, autism, mental health challenges, and those affected by domestic violence and trauma.
Theatre Porto is immensely grateful for this funding opportunity and excited to contribute to the growth and prosperity of Cheshire West and Chester. Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming initiatives and how we will bring the transformative power of the arts to our community!
Caz Brader, Executive Director at Theatre Porto said:
“Receiving this funding is good news for Theatre Porto at a time when Arts Organisations really need public support to survive the difficult economic climate. More importantly this is great news for our communities in Ellesmere Port. Our local families deserve to benefit from the ‘levelling up’ agenda having missed out for too many years and our wonderful publicly funded arts venue is, after all, ‘Our Porto’. We can’t wait to share more details about the ‘Our Porto’ programmes we’ll deliver with this investment including free outdoor arts festivals, free theatre tickets for children facing disadvantage and a fantastic new Partnership with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre for adults recovering from addiction.”
The Our Porto Programme
The ‘Our Porto’ programme will specifically build bridges with communities who live in the lower super output areas of Ellesmere Port by offering:
- a free programme of activity for children and young people in those areas, which empowers them to tap into their creative potential; supporting mental health, general well-being and raising levels of aspiration
- a free ticket scheme and incentives for families to engage with high quality cultural experiences at our venue, which improve health and wellbeing and strengthens social ties.
- a free park-based summer programme in Whitby Park (utilising the park amphitheatre and green spaces) which improves well-being and strengthens pride of place
- SEND provision for children and their families which removes barriers, supports wellbeing and creates ownership of the new venue for SEND families
- Specialist dance provision for adults in recovery (led by Fallen Angels Dance Theatre)
As well as a new regional partnership with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, we will also build on a number of local partnerships and over the two-year programme we will provide around 50 opportunities for volunteering and paid employment.
Our activity will:
- Improve health and well-being, by delivering person centred engagement with the arts
- Foster a new sense of belonging and pride of place
- Address Inequality by providing opportunity, especially for young people, disabled children and adults, families from the most disadvantaged wards and those with experience of recovery
- Improve engagement numbers
- Increase visitor numbers
Further reading:
