Supporting community organisations providing access to the arts in Leeds

Above: Balbir Singh Dance Company


Through the Leeds Community Foundation, The Mohn Westlake Youth Engagement Fund is supporting nine community organisations across Leeds with grants of up to £10,000 each year for up to 3 years.

The aim of the programme is to increase engagement, experience and experimentation for those less likely or able to access arts in Leeds in the run up to Leeds 2023.


At a glance…

  • Over £126,000 distributed in grants to 9 community organisations
  • 887 beneficiaries are projected to directly benefit from awarded grants
  • All projects will be taking place in the run up to Leeds 2023

Organisations are working with young people who are, or perceive that they are, excluded or disengaged from opportunities in the arts. Project activities range from delivering workshops around spoken word, creative writing to producing a digital story exploring identity and inequality to developing podcasts so young people can tell their stories.

All projects (see below) are currently underway and will be taking place in the run up to Leeds 2023. The funding is also being utilised to support the Foundation's wider work to engage young people and their voice in local community issues.


“We learnt different ways in which you can say things. And what impact that has. We also learnt about different languages - morse code, sign language. For the dance, we learnt two different rhythms. We said colours by using how our arms were pointing. And we learnt numbers using our hands (traditional Kathak). We learnt a lot!” Balbir Singh Dance Company


For more information about this project please visit their website:
leedscf.org.uk


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