Cast receives £60,000 grant to support life-changing community arts programme
The funding will support the core running costs of Cast’s Participation team
Cast is delighted to announce that it has been awarded £60,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation to help sustain and grow its Participation Programme over the next two years, enabling more people across Doncaster to access creative opportunities that reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and build stronger communities.
The Garfield Weston Foundation supports charities across the UK to make a lasting difference in their communities, investing in organisations that deliver meaningful social impact.
The funding will support the core running costs of Cast’s Participation team, ensuring that thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds from across Doncaster can continue to benefit from inclusive creative experiences that place wellbeing, confidence and connection at their heart.
As Doncaster’s flagship theatre, Cast believes everyone should have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of the arts.
Based in one of the country’s most economically disadvantaged areas, the theatre delivers a year-round Participation Programme designed alongside local communities.
It supports children and young people, older adults, people experiencing mental health challenges, refugees and people seeking asylum, people with disabilities, and families facing financial difficulties.
Each year, Cast delivers more than 700 participation sessions, engaging almost 14,000 people through activities that foster creativity, connection and personal growth.
Sarah Clough, Head of Participation at Cast, said: “Every week we see the difference creativity makes to people’s lives. We see individuals grow in confidence, develop friendships, improve their wellbeing and discover talents they never knew they had.
“This generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation gives us the stability to continue delivering this vital work and reach even more people across Doncaster who may otherwise face barriers to taking part in the arts.”
One participant said: “Cast is a place where dreams come true, where you’re safe. I can be myself. Everybody is
an equal and gets treated that way. It’s a special place.”