Worcester City Council has agreed the investment of over £262,000 in a series of community-focused projects, all set to be delivered over the coming year.
The funding includes £177,911 for three key initiatives: the installation of a new lift at the Swan Theatre to improve accessibility, the purchase of a mobile "Music Box" vehicle for city-wide musical engagement, and the extension of the Comer Gardens Community Centre.
An additional £84,500 has been allocated for education through the Worcester Community Trust and the Skills Boost initiatives, and to support the local economy through the Council’s business grants programme.
This funding comes from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Councillor Lynn Denham, Worcester City Council Leader said:
“I’m delighted that we can make a difference with these projects and use this funding to make a positive contribution to Worcester.
“The money will be used for increasing people’s skills and improving their career prospects in some of our more deprived areas. We can also contribute to boosting accessibility at the Swan Theatre and creating new facilities at Comer Gardens Community Centre.
“I’m particularly pleased that we can now go out and buy the Music Box vehicle, which will give a great shot in the arm to music for the community in our city.
“We’re extremely grateful to the Government for the opportunity to invest this money for the good of Worcester.”
All supported projects must be completed by 31 March 2026.
The allocation of funding has been agreed by Worcester City Council’s Policy and Resource Committee.
The chosen projects were all assessed using set criteria that included deliverability, social benefit, and economic and environmental impacts.
The funding will support a variety of impactful projects across Worcester.
£50,000 has been allocated to the Swan Theatre for the installation of a lift, significantly enhancing accessibility for all visitors.
Comer Gardens Community Centre will receive £42,000 to provide an extension to the community centre by refurbishing a vacant flat above the facility, building on a previous Council investment of £140,000 for the project.
An allocation of £80,000 will fund the Music Box, a mobile music vehicle in partnership with Severn Arts. The innovative project will travel to schools, community events, and venues, offering instruments and educational opportunities to people of all ages.
To support local workforce development, the Skills Boost initiative will receive £25,000 to provide training for employees at businesses within the city.
Additionally, Worcester Community Trust has been allocated £25,000 to continue its delivery of essential life, digital, and employability skills to help residents improve their job prospects.
The remaining £34,500 of funding has been added to the City Council’s pot for grants to support local businesses, taking that to a grand total of £82,000. Full details of these grants, including information on how to apply, are at www.worcester.gov.uk/business.
