Council and DCAL fund Community Fund events

Council subsequently matched the financial sum provided by DCAL and developed the Community Festivals Fund, which aims to provide assistance to communities to devise, plan and deliver events in their areas.

Council advertised the availability of the Community Festival Fund in local media and on Council’s website in February.

Community organisations and community led partnerships wishing to host an event or festival which celebrated and promoted their local community and its culture were invited to apply for this funding.

Fourteen applications were received, ten of which met the criteria and obtained funding. Each successful applicant in the scheme demonstrated their event would incorporate strong participation from the community in both the organisation and implementation of the project.

Applicants were also required to provide opportunities for people to develop their skills base in either organising or participating in activities, to demonstrate an ability to make the festival/event as inclusive as possible and to attract visitors to the area; thus encouraging social, community and economic regeneration.

Julie Welsh, Council’s Community Development Manager, said: ‘I was absolutely thrilled by the numbers of applicants we received. Local events and festivals are vital in the promotion of good relations and cultural understanding and identity within our community.

“The Community Festivals Fund 2010 is currently supporting a range of local neighbourhood events, alongside some larger scale projects.

“This considerable number of events and festivals vary tremendously from Halloween parades, to walking festivals and agricultural events, to name but a few.”