Funding bid to support war memorial restoration - share your project ideas

The restoration of the Promenade’s war memorial is soon to take a step closer with a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. As part of this, the council is inviting community organisations to consider any projects they would like to see included in the bid to highlight the significance of the First World War to the Cheltenham community.  The deadline for expressions of interest is 18 December 2015.

Early next year, Cheltenham Borough Council will be submitting a bid to “Our Heritage” (part of the Heritage Lottery Fund) for funding to support both the physical restoration of the war memorial and commemorative events, ahead of the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018.

In order to secure the funding for a range of community-based activities across the borough to commemorate World War 1, the council is therefore inviting organisations who would like to include a project in the bid to send in an expression of interest. 

The council is looking to include projects to take place in 2017 or 2018 that will meet the aim of  “connecting today’s community to the significance of World War 1” and come under one or more of the following themes:

• Capturing and sharing of local stories of soldiers from Cheltenham in World War 1
• Exploring our contribution to the war effort at home in Cheltenham
• Commemorating women who died serving their country
• Sharing music, art and poetry of the time that reflected the changing social history and culture
 
Activities can take the form of:

• Public activities, events and ceremonies
• Community involvement and discovery
• Education projects with children and young people

Councillor John Rawson, cabinet member for finance said: “Cheltenham is a town that cherishes its history and heritage. In keeping with this, we are keen to see as much activity as possible to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1, to raise awareness about the war and its impact on Cheltenham.  We can learn a lot about the global impact of the war by focusing on the lives and experiences of people in our own community. We hope that this bid will make the restoration of the war memorial far more than just a stonemasonry project, but the focus for a whole series of really interesting historical and educational projects in 2017 and 2018.’’
 
Any not for profit organisation can apply, and bids can be made of between £2000 and £20,000 for any one activity.  The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 18 December, and the decision about which projects will be included in the Our Heritage bid will be communicated in early January. 

 For more information and the expression of interest form, please contact Helen Down at [email protected] or call 01242 774960. Alternatively, the details can be viewed at ww1cheltenham.org   
 

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