The funding, commissioned by Trafford Council, aimed to support local activities which focused on arts, culture and heritage. Trafford voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations could apply for grants of up to £3,000 to develop and deliver of activities from community spaces, including youth centres and libraries. The grants fostered a sense of local pride and belonging, through investment in activities that enhance physical, cultural and social ties and amenities. The Collective supported this process.
I have been pleased to represent Trafford Community Collective in the administration of the Public Health in arts grants, this fund has now closed. Grants totalling £36,000 have been awarded to 13 organisations across Trafford, to work together in a variety of projects aimed at engaging communities, connect more people together, tackle health inequalities and increase pride in Trafford’.
Suzanne Kelly the Collective’s Deputy Chief Officer
The projects ran from January 2024 and the final awards were announced in August 2024 for completion by March 2025.
Nathan Atkinson, Trafford Council’s Corporate Director for Adults and Wellbeing, said:
Engaging with the arts can have powerful and lasting effects on health. Art engagement can improve wellbeing and protect against a range of mental health conditions. It can help to boost confidence and make us feel more engaged and resilient. The arts can also help at a community level. Engaging in the arts, social activities and interaction within our communities can also help with major challenges, such as ageing and loneliness.”
There were activities happening all over Trafford, with Art and Soul youth workshops in Gorse Hill Studios, creative arts with a bereavement group organised by Full Circle Funeral Care with an exhibition event in July at Inch Art Studios in Altrincham. Seed Studio’s organised 16 music workshops 59 older adults at their wellbeing centres in Old Trafford and Timperley between January to June, and found the sessions helped lift their spirits and learnt new skills.
Between March and June, there were creative writing workshops at OT Creative Space, 34 people who regularly attended the workshops. OT creative space have regular weekly ‘brew on the bench’ sessions and in July the Old Trafford community came and spoke to the workshop participants about their experience of engaging with the arts.
Jan, a creative making participant said:
“I have really enjoyed the whole process of joining in on Rabia’s creative making wellbeing course. She has pushed me out of my comfort zone and my thinking and art skills have improved in last 6 weeks”
Carrie Williams who ran the creative workshops said:
”Getting involved with this project has also opened the doors to working with Trafford Community Collective as the Aging in Place Co-ordinator, I am keen to maximise the unique energy in Old Trafford in my new role”
There was the Dead Good festival weekend Friday 10th May to Sunday 12th May attended by more than 100 people at Stretford Public Hall and mural workshops in July and August in Chassen Park.
The final round of Arts Grant was announced in August and there are 5 projects running from September to March 2025, these include Breathchamps doing story times in libraries focused on better care for children with asthma, music workshops in Old Trafford organised by Trafford Carers with the help of String of Hearts and Rehoboth for families will be doing a community festival in Stretford at the Living Rooms as part of Black History Month in October.
Here are some examples of the projects undertaken
