“Life Act gives me a reason to get up in the morning and a purpose in life”

Rotherham theatre group celebrates £185,000 National Lottery grant

Young people and adults in Rotherham with disabilities and autism can continue to access performing arts opportunities to change their life, thanks to a National Lottery grant of almost £185,000.

This funding to Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance CIC comes from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. It is one of the 1,200 charities and community groups across Yorkshire and Humber that have been awarded more than £55 million of National Lottery funding over the last year*.

Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance’s five-year project Life Act enhances people’s confidence, self-esteem, and reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation felt by the disabled community, by providing weekly rehearsals and regular opportunities to perform throughout the year. It also aims to challenge people’s perception of disability by showcasing the skills and talents of its performers, and giving them a voice.

In addition to working with schools across South Yorkshire, the project will connect with five other disability arts companies across the country to develop its practices through shared learning, and provide a collaborative theatre event.

Jonno, a Life Act participant at Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance CIC, said: “I felt really good and really proud when I heard that we’ve got the funding which will keep us going for the next five years. Life Act makes a huge impact on my life as you get to socialise, do drama and perform at schools and colleges.

“It’s really important that people learn about disability issues and we’re the best people to teach this. Life Act is like a big family. Life Act gives me a reason to get up in the morning and a purpose in life.”

Charlie Barnes, Life Act Drama Practitioner, said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have been funded by The National Lottery Community Fund to run Life Act for the next five years. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all those out there who buy National Lottery tickets.

“This funding allows us to continue to create powerful theatre which explores issues around disability and promotes the social model. Our incredible actors will have new opportunities to perform at venues across South Yorkshire and will also connect with other disability theatre companies in the UK.”

Today it was also announced that almost £580 million of National Lottery funding has been distributed to over 11,500 community organisations across England in the past year*.

The funding announcement follows recent news that The National Lottery Community Fund has doubled the amount and duration of grants grassroots communities can apply for through its flagship funding programme, National Lottery Awards for All.

With a new maximum award of £20,000 and two-year grant term, this significant change supports the funder’s ambition to invest most in places, people and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. Read its strategy, ‘It starts with community’, to find out more.

Joe Dobson, Head of Funding for Yorkshire and Humber at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re delighted to be able to award funding to such an impressive range of local groups and projects, all seeking to support their community and meet local needs. Their passion, creativity and commitment make a real difference and they should be proud that their efforts will help to improve local people’s lives.

“Going forward, we are doubling the amount of funding grassroots groups can apply for through our National Lottery Awards for All programme, helping them to make an even bigger impact for their communities.”

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

Date published: 12 December, 2023
Region: England (Yorkshire and the Humber)

Notes to Editors

* These figures are for funding awarded from 26^th November 2022 – 25^th November 2023.

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name.

We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.

We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.

As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:

1. Come together

2. Be environmentally sustainable

3. Help children and young people thrive

4. Enable people to live healthier lives.

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute around £500 million a year through 10,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4bn of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £47 billion has been raised and more than 670,000 individual grants have been made across the UK - the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.

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