PLEASE READ, THIS IS A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE I HAVE SUBMITTED AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING LIKE IT WILL GO IN THE PRESS, please forgive spelling etc Art & Soul has today had to inform its members that there is a strong possibility that it may have to close its charities doors within the next couple of months, due to not being able to secure sufficient funding. Since Art & Soul was set up it has been relying on a variety of smaller grants that have been gratefully received but no real long term funding has been achieved. There is work going on behind the scenes regarding funding by people and organisations that believe in and value the charity and what it stands for, but without bigger grants being issued the charity cannot continue running on a shoe string. We have low over heads because we use the skills and knowledge that our members have to run workshops and heavily rely on volunteers to provide services such as shiatsu, silk painting, garden project to name a few.We have had a number of students gain experience from our project, from 6th form, Princes Trust, college and university placements. We have a lot of support in the community and are very grateful to all those who have been kind and caring enough to make donations of any kind in the past. We found ourselves in this position this time last year and the generosity of the Talbot Bike Ride Team giving us the £7,500 they raised, kept us a float till more funds were secured. We are in desperate need of long term core funding, which is so hard to achieve. Vikki senior project worker of Art & Soul says that Art & Soul is filling an ever growing gap that has been left from cuts to other services, over 400 members visit the project each month and it continues to rise. Art & Soul appreciate the support and guidance given by VAST, Trent & Dove, the Quakers, the local Town Hall and Local Police especially the amazing PCSO’s who a lot of our members respect and turn to in times of need. The list is endless. Art & Soul are intending to go out on a high note up and coming events include a picnic in the park on the 4th of August, anyone and everyone welcome, come in for more details. The Lark in the Park event held on the 23rd of August where Art & Soul intend to have a Mad Hatters Parade along with our good friends from Zazutribal who will be dancing to the song Happy, after I recent Youtube video ( happy Art & Soul). We really hope that Art & Soul will be received well and supported by the local community, if you would like to participate please come into the project in the Market Place in Uttoxeter and get involved. Vikki has stated that Art & Soul needs to remain in some format but the overheads and running costs need to be met. Whilst it may appear to some that there is plenty of funding to apply for there is also a lot of criteria to be met. Art & Soul is no longer just a drop in but a place that holds lots of structured activities, workshops and has lots of local organisations such as wellbeing practitioner, mental health professionals, support workers, social service, Woman’s Aid and so forth using our project to see a variety of their clients. We are an open house to everyone in the community young and old. To close Vikki would like to thank the most important people and that is the Art & Souls members who have made the charity the wonderful friendly energetic happy place that it has turned into, who show love, support, friendship and compassion to one another.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 06:27:48 +0000
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