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Council Awards Over £425,000 to Local Projects as Part of Crowdfunding Campaign

One of the many Children supported by Down Syndrome Cheshire, recipient of ‘Cheshire Crowd’ funding - Lucy Liddiard, Down Syndrome Cheshire 


On January 9th 2023, the Cheshire West and Chester council announced they had pledged more than £425,000 to the ‘Cheshire West Crowd’ campaign to support local projects and initiatives.


Launched in 2021, the ‘Cheshire West Crowd’ is an online crowdfunding initiative established by the Council in partnership with Spacehive, that attracts funding for community-led ideas.


£5,000 of the recent crowdfunding round was awarded to The Boat Shed Theatre Company in Ellesmere Port, to develop an in-house art space. 


Co-founder of the Boat Shed Theatre Company, Teresa Newton, said: “We already run a number of activities throughout the week but we plan to use the recent funding to set up a place for visual art, a professional gallery.” 


She added, “The visual arts are very important to me personally as I went to art school so it’s something I’ve been passionate about setting up.”


The Boat Shed Theatre Company host a number of weekly events, including a youth theatre group, a writers club and music therapy sessions. Despite their busy schedule, The Boat Shed has big plans for the art space. “We’re hoping to give people opportunities often only available in bigger cities and allow them to exhibit their own Art.”


“We eventually want to look at partnering with galleries like the White Walls and Castle Fine Art too.”


“We also want to auction art, to show people they can actually succeed in the creative industry and put a stop to local heroes being trapped in their own living rooms. Without that ability to showcase your talents in the right environment so much of it is wasted.”


The Boat Shed moved to its current location in Ellesmere Port less than twelve months ago and has relied on public donations and funding to remain open, “It's only recently that we've been noticed. We've just always been so independent y’know, we started up with the £15 it took to register as a company and we’ve been fighting since.”


“We rely on this funding and can't do it alone. It's thanks to the council and more importantly the community that were even still here.”


Down Syndrome Cheshire is a Charity group based in Northwich that also received funding from the ‘Cheshire Crowd’ campaign. Down Syndrome Cheshire supports over 350 people with Down Syndrome, provides education and support to families and raises awareness about the condition in Cheshire and surrounding areas. 


The money will be used to fund the construction of a sensory room for children and babies with Down Syndrome. Communications Manager Lucy Liddiard explained, “What not many people know is that kids with Down Syndrome have a lot of sensory needs, so to offer a space like this for families is really amazing.”


Like The Boat Shed, Down Syndrome Cheshire only recently moved to their current location “We only moved into our new community hub last year so it's been months of construction, and the sensory room was the last project, so with this funding, it’s finally all coming together.”


“I think if we hadn’t managed to receive this funding it would have taken us a really, really long time to raise the money required for the room. The babies, toddlers and children that will benefit from the sensory room are getting older and would’ve missed out.”


Lucy wished to share her gratitude, saying “It’s lovely for the council to recognise us, we’re very thankful to the council and each member of the community who added to the crowdfund.” 


“Each pound has made this possible!”


Lucy also shared the following quote from CEO of Down Syndrome Cheshire, Lawrence Caygill. He said, “We are over the moon that we will be able to provide a sensory room for babies and children with Down syndrome in Cheshire which will support their physical, communication and social development.”


“The pledge from the Council has been instrumental in getting our crowdfunding campaign over the line and providing funding for this much-needed resource which will make a massive difference to the lives of children living with Down syndrome and their parents and carers.”


More information regarding the ‘Cheshire West Crowd’ campaign can be found at: https://www.spacehive.com/movement/cwc 


To learn more about Down Syndrome Cheshire, visit: https://dscheshire.org.uk/ 


To learn more about The Boat Shed, visit: https://www.boatytheatre.co.uk/about-3 

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