Cast, Doncaster’s main producing theatre, has been awarded £60,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation to bolster its Participation Programme and ensure the organisation can continue delivering year-round creative activities across the borough.
Funding to keep community arts running
The grant will cover core running costs for Cast’s Participation team over the next two years, the theatre said, allowing it to maintain and expand programmes designed to reduce isolation, boost wellbeing and strengthen community ties. Based in an area recognised among the country’s more economically disadvantaged, Cast runs workshops and projects aimed at a broad cross-section of Doncaster residents.
Who benefits and how often
Cast’s Participation Programme works with people of all ages and backgrounds, including:
- 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 the theatre runs in excess of 700 participation sessions, engaging almost 14,000 people through activities that aim to foster creativity, social connection and personal development.
Local voices
“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.”
The quote above comes from Sarah Clough, Cast’s Head of Participation, who said the funding provides stability that will enable the team to reach more Doncaster residents who might otherwise be excluded from arts activities.
“Cast is a place where dreams come true, where you’re safe. I can be myself. Everybody”
That comment from a programme participant captures the personal impact the theatre’s work has on individuals and families around the town.
What the grant means locally
Support from the Garfield Weston Foundation — a charity that funds organisations across the UK — will be focused on sustaining staff and the core delivery model that underpins the Participation Programme. For Doncaster, where arts provision and community services can be stretched by limited resources, keeping this work running matters for social and mental health outcomes as well as cultural access.
Practical impacts likely to be felt in the coming months include continued weekly sessions, community events such as family days, and opportunities for participants to take part in creative projects that may feed into larger productions at the theatre. Cast’s position as a local hub means the grant helps maintain a base for people to meet, learn and collaborate.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Grant awarded | £60,000 |
| Programme duration covered | 2 years |
| Participation sessions per year | 700+ |
| People engaged annually | ~14,000 |
Cast’s work sits alongside other local services and charities that use creative activity to tackle loneliness and improve mental wellbeing. The new funding should mean those referrals and self-referrals can continue without the disruption that tighter budgets might otherwise cause.
Details on upcoming Participation Programme events and how to join are available through Cast’s website and social channels. Residents interested in taking part or volunteering with the programme can contact the theatre directly for timetables, access information and any support with transport or costs.
The Garfield Weston Foundation’s investment marks a vote of confidence in Cast’s model and the role the theatre plays in Doncaster’s cultural and community life.
