Brentwood Borough Council has awarded £422,634 in grants to 16 local businesses, clubs, community interest companies and charities to support delivery of cultural and sports levelling up projects from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. These initiatives are funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The successful projects, subject to final contract agreements, include:
Bentley Cricket Club: Refurbish nets to facilitate the playing of inter school tournaments, training sessions, and other cricket-related events.
Blue Serif: ‘Creative Cove’ will nurture young, home-grown creative talent in Brentwood making visible and accessible the opportunities for young people to develop creative careers in the Borough.
Brennan and Burch: Big Smile Collective Youth Art Factory Brentwood will provide a safe space weekly for young people to get creative, achieve a Bronze Arts Award and create their own art portfolio to show to colleges and employers.
Brentwood Eels Rugby Club: Purchase rugby wheelchairs suitable for youth and smaller players, increase training and improve training resources.
Brentwood Theatre: Replace the theatrical lighting infrastructure to bring the venue in-line with modern standards and ensure that the theatre can continue to operate.
Brookweald Cricket Club: Refurbish clubhouse to make it fully accessible and add a closed net practice area to make the club a state-of-the-art facility.
DRCC Youth: Provide 4 summer engagement days at Brentwood Skate Park for young people aged 10-18, working with a number of partners to offer wider provision and increase life skills.
Hermit CIC: Purchase of sound equipment to support young musicians aged 12-19 to foster their creative skills.
Ingatestone & Fryerning Parish Council: Install an accessible outdoor gym at Seymour Field.
Ingatestone Museum Trust: Internal refurbishment of the disused crossing keeper's cottage located within the curtilage of the Grade II listed Ingatestone Station and the Station Lane conservation area.
Let’s Get Out CIC: Purchase of a minibus to increase accessibility of this not-for-profit’s outdoor activities.
Metal: Brentwood Creative Changemakers is an intensive programme designed to build capacity, skills and make space for creatives to come together to nurture Brentwood’s existing cultural sector.
Orchestras Live: A creative support project with a number of arts organisations for people with dementia and their family carers.
Sawyers Church: Purchase sports equipment to support youth and elderly groups.
Society of Old Brentwoods: Upgrade the ladies changing room and toilet to encourage more women’s sports and tournaments at the club.
Try a Tri: Fund a triathlon taster event at The Brentwood Centre in July 2024.
Cllr David Kendall, Chair of the Finance, Assets, Investment and Recovery Committee at Brentwood Borough Council said: “The quality of applications we received for these funds was very high and the projects funded will be led by local organisations aiming to help make the Brentwood borough a great place to live, work and thrive.”
For more information about the UKSPF programme in Brentwood borough, visit our Funding webpage.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus