It has been announced that Foden's has been successful in gaining funding through Arts Council England's National Lottery funded 'Catalyst' programme to enhance 'strategic organisational development' within their organisation.

Enhance opportunities

The Sandbach band has been awarded £17,819 towards a total project cost of £20,875 — one which aims to enable them to enhance organisational stability and resilience whilst exploring further opportunities to engage in a Peer Development/Peer Mentoring Programme and offer these opportunities as part of its on-going work.

The project will commence on 1st March and will run until 30th November 2019. Foden's is the only brass band to secure part of the £2.8 million funding which was awarded to just 117 organisations.

Successful

The successful application was led by the work and advice of Carole Hirst, who previously helped secure Foden's funding through Arts Council England's National Lottery funded Grants for the Arts programme in May 2016 and Heritage Lottery Funding through the 'Our Heritage' programme in December 2016.

Carole will project manage the Catalyst Funding Bid providing support and mentoring to Foden's Band Manager Mark Wilkinson.

This will enable the band develop a network of local and regional partnerships as well as proactively seeking collaborative working links. Foden's will also undertake a governance review and develop a Funding Strategic Plan for the period 2018-2023.

Fundraising capacity

The Arts Council England Catalyst Small Grants Programme awards grants from £10,000 to £30,000 and can be applied for to build fundraising capacity and encourage private giving to arts and culture resulting in improved financial resilience support.

Delighted

Jane Beardsworth, Director North, Arts Council England stated: "I'm delighted that Foden's Band has been successful in its application to our Catalyst programme.

We have supported a wide range of different types of organisations through Catalyst and this award will help Foden's secure its future."

We have supported a wide range of different types of organisations through Catalyst and this award will help Foden's secure its futureJane Beardsworth, Director North, Arts Council England

High profile project

In response, Foden's Mark Wilkinson told 4BR: "We would like to thank Carole Hirst for helping collate and submit this successful application on the back of two previous successful funding awards.

I'm looking forward to working with the band committee and Carole on this high profile project, with the funding also being used to look into ways to increase our fundraising and sponsorship capabilities."