We told you in our last blog post that we are getting back to work and we have a lot more new events and activities planned for our lovely Sutton borough community. As a voluntary organisation, we rely on public funding and sponsorship to run and to bring value to all of you through everything we do. And also, that means we are open and transparent about our projects, ideas and how we bring them to life. In this post we share with you our plans for the next couple of years. We hope that you will share with us your views on them, and ultimately send us your good wishes for success.
Our New Project - Better Together
Following the successful delivery of Sutton Community Unity in the space of one year, we now want to continue and expand our work with a new project that spreads over 2 years and is called Better Together. To bring it to life, we will need to source £30,000 in funding from various funding bodies. We have already applied for the National Lottery Community Fund and the Sutton Community Action Fund. We are hoping to be successful in both of our applications and will keep looking for other opportunities to add to the budget.
1. What is the main purpose of your project?
The main purpose of our project Better Together is to enhance cultural appreciation and community cohesion within the London Borough of Sutton by offering accessible arts education and childcare opportunities through creative and performing arts. Our aim is to engage children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds in activities such as singing, dancing, drama, and sports, which promote inclusivity, reduce social isolation, and improve mental health. These initiatives will also provide much-needed childcare solutions during school holidays, particularly for families struggling with the cost of living, while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of world cultures.
2. Who will benefit from this project and how?
Our project will benefit the local community, especially children, families, and residents of the London Borough of Sutton. We expect to engage at least 3,000 people, increasing our reach by 50% compared to previous years. This includes over 120 children aged 5-17 from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds who will participate in regular classes and holiday clubs.
Families, especially those facing financial challenges, will benefit from affordable childcare during school holidays. Residents will have the opportunity to experience cultural events, promoting social inclusion and mental well-being through shared artistic and cultural experiences.
3. How does this project meet the needs of our community?
Our community is diverse, with many families feeling disconnected from their cultural roots or isolated due to language barriers, financial strain, or lack of affordable activities. The cost of living crisis has exacerbated these challenges, making it harder for families to afford extracurricular activities or childcare. Through accessible arts programs, cultural events, and school holiday clubs, we provide both cultural enrichment and practical support. Our events have already proven successful in fostering cultural appreciation and improving the mental well-being of residents, based on feedback from over 2,000 attendees at past events.
This funding will allow us to expand our programmes, including running holiday clubs that offer both creative and sports activities, which are vital for children’s social and emotional development. Furthermore, by involving children from various backgrounds, we encourage positive cross-cultural interaction, helping reduce social tensions and fostering greater inclusivity.
4. How will we use this funding to make a difference?
The £30,000 funding will be used to expand our community programs over two years, impacting more families and children through creative and sports activities. Key areas of spending will include:
Event production costs: Covering costs for culturally diverse events like our signature Around the World Festival, holiday clubs, and workshops that promote mental health and cultural understanding.
Marketing and outreach: Ensuring that our events are well-promoted and reach more families, including those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Venue hire: Supporting the rental of venues for events, classes, and workshops to ensure accessibility.
Childcare and arts programmes: Offering reduced-cost holiday clubs and regular arts classes for children, helping struggling families.
By covering these essential costs, we can continue to bring high-quality, accessible arts education and cultural activities to our community, while promoting diversity and inclusion.
5. How will we measure the success of your project?
We will measure success through a combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics:
Participation numbers: Tracking attendance at events and classes to ensure we meet our target of engaging at least 3,000 community members, including 120+ children in regular programs.
Feedback collection: After each event, we will collect feedback from participants to assess the impact on their mental health, cultural appreciation, and desire for future engagement.
New metrics: We will introduce specific questions to assess the impact on families facing financial challenges, the effectiveness of our childcare provision, and the development of children's creative and social skills.
Awards and recognition: Continuing to participate in local festivals and competitions, where our success can be further validated through external recognition, similar to our previous achievements.
6. How will we sustain the project after this funding ends?
Creative Heritage is committed to seeking additional funding sources to sustain our programmes beyond this funding period. We will actively pursue opportunities with bodies such as the Arts Council Fund and other relevant grants. Additionally, we plan to expand our small income stream from ethnic wear hires and explore new avenues, such as selling tickets for special events or establishing a donation system to secure financial contributions from our growing community of supporters.
We really want to hear from you and find out what you think about this project. Share your views, ideas, recommendations and concerns with us by emailing us on creativeheritageuk@gmail.com. It will give us the much needed reassurance and motivation to continue pouring our energy and love into all our activities.
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