£3m for arts and community groups
HARD-UP council chiefs across Greater Manchester, battling to balance the books year after year, have clubbed together to plough £3m into arts and community groups.
The massive cash injection comes despite another round of brutal town hall cuts, due to be finalised by the region’s councils next month.
Leaders say that even in the face of swingeing cuts to services, it is vital they pump cash into grassroots projects, which support sports and performance initiatives for youngsters, elderly people, and cultural and community schemes.
Investment in our cultural institutions is also a priority.
It is the third year Greater Manchester’s combined authority - made up of the region’s 10 councils - has provided grants for local groups.
Organisations across the region are set to benefit.
Recipients include the Water Adventure Centre in Droylsden, which helps build young people’s confidence through water sports, and The Proud Trust, which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people.
GreaterSport - the Greater Manchester Sports Partnership - will also benefit, helping bosses reach their goal of getting a million people in Greater Manchester participating in regular activity this year.
Cultural institutions to bag a share of the pot include Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, the Hallé Concert Society, Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, the Oldham Coliseum and The Lowry.
Bosses at those venues will use the cash to attract more visitors and bid for other funding from national bodies.
Stockport council leader and combined authority lead for culture, arts and leisure, Alex Ganotis, said: “This is great news for Greater Manchester and testament to the benefits of working together across our region.
“This funding will help these organisations give people the skills they need to get back to work, improve young people’s confidence through sport and performance, support older people, widen cultural participation and help support our world-leading cultural institutions.
“Even in the face of tightened budgets, we recognise the role that these organisations play in improving the social and economic prospects of our communities, so I’m delighted that Greater Manchester has been able to support them in this way.”
GreaterSport CEO Yvonne Harrison said: “This investment into GreaterSport has been central to the charity’s stability and our ability to lever additional national funding into Greater Manchester.
“The money helps GreaterSport to provide a core service to the districts of Greater Manchester in supporting them to change lives through physical activity and sport.”