A brush with success: Cumbrian arts charity receives £190,000 National Lottery cash injection

North East community groups receive over £11 million of National Lottery funding.

Adults with learning disabilities or additional needs in Cumbria will soon be able to benefit from a summer school of creative therapies delivered by local charity Prism Arts, thanks to a recent £190,000 cash injection.

This vital funding, raised by National Lottery players, has been awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

Based in Carlisle, Prism Arts’ Summer School will run for two weeks between 19 – 30 July and provide a range of creative workshops including street art, story-telling, theatre sessions, and an afternoon with cartoonist, illustrator, and artist, Steven Appleby, whose cartoon strips have been published in multiple national publications.

The arts charity helps to empower people with learning disabilities, additional needs, and autism, by supporting them to develop their artistic talents – providing them with opportunities that may not be accessible to them via more mainstream routes. Due to the lockdowns, Prism Arts had to put on hold many of the regular activities it offered, leaving some members feeling isolated and disconnected from the community.

Recent research* has shown individuals with disabilities have experienced limited or no access to activities and support services during the pandemic – to the detriment of their mental health and increasing rates of anxiety.

Now, with the charity’s studio doors open again and an exciting summer school programme in sight, Prism Art’s members are eager to get crafty and benefit from the social and creative environment the charity’s centre fosters.

Andy, a Prism Arts member, encountered the charity’s online activities over lockdown and has recently started attending its weekly studio sessions. When asked how going to Prism Arts made him feel, Andy answered with a resounding “awesome”.

Catherine Coulthard, Creative & Strategic Director at Prism Arts, said: “After 18 months of disruption due to Covid-19 we are so excited to be able to provide these in-person creative opportunities this Summer. Throughout lockdown, we had to switch to a digital based model, delivering activities online. Although this worked well for lots of our participants, it is wonderful to get back to creating as a group, learning from each other and enjoying the social interaction.

We’ve managed to secure some fantastic visiting artists to work with the groups and I cannot wait to see what they create. From dance to theatre to street art, there’s going to be a wide range of things to explore and many new talents to discover and develop. These workshops are kicking off a five-year National Lottery funded programme that will help us to work with people most impacted by the pandemic. We are so grateful to National Lottery players who have helped to make funding this work possible”

Places for Prism Arts’ Summer School will require booking in advance via its website here.

Charities and community groups across the North East and Cumbria have been awarded more than £11 million of National Lottery funding throughout 2021 so far.** The region isn’t alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £200 million has been distributed to more than 4,500 community organisations across England so far this year** - all thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £36 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.***

Duncan Nicholson, Head of Funding for North East and Cumbria at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Prism Arts’ Summer School is just one of the many fulfilling activities the charity provides for people with learning disabilities, helping to build their confidence, and providing an environment to have fun and socialise in. We’re honoured to support its important and positive work in the local community.

“I am incredibly proud to see the amazing impact that money raised by National Lottery players is having in communities across the North East. This funding has given a much-needed boost to community spirit this year after what have been some extremely difficult times.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Thanks to National Lottery players, last year we awarded over half a billion pounds (£588.2 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK. Over eight in ten (83%) of our grants are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk