Community groups in Calderdale with ideas for events and festivals to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire can apply for funding to make them happen.
Calderdale’s vibrant towns and exciting activities will be in the spotlight when the new cycling event races through the borough on Sunday 3 May 2015. To make the most of this, Calderdale Council has created a £10,000 fund to support small local events linked to the Tour de Yorkshire, to help get communities involved and boost visitor numbers.
This follows the great success of last year’s fund for events to celebrate the Tour de France, when the Council received 19 applications from local organisations and awarded over £10,000, bringing in £85,000 in match funding.
Calderdale Council’s Leader, Cllr Stephen Baines, said:
“Calderdale’s exciting and diverse events and festivals are a key attraction for residents and visitors, and as excitement builds for the Tour de Yorkshire they will play a big part in creating an unforgettable weekend. We want communities to come together, celebrate and have a fantastic time, so we’re delighted to be supporting local event organisers. We hope that this will help to boost community involvement and visitor numbers even more.”
The deadline for funding applications is Monday 2 March 2015, and the Council will let organisations know if they have been successful in mid-March. Due to the short timescale the Council will particularly welcome applications from local community groups for small grants of around £500. The Council is looking for events and festivals that involve the whole community, are safe, do not currently receive funding from Calderdale Council and do not charge entry or sell tickets.
The third stage of the Tour de Yorkshire will come to Calderdale on Sunday 3 May 2015, starting in Wakefield and ending in Leeds. It will pick up last year’s Tour de France Grand Départ route in reverse, racing to Ripponden before riding the iconic Cragg Vale as the country’s longest continual descent. The riders will then make their way to Hebden Bridge.
For more information visit the Community festivals and events fund page on the Council’s website.
To apply for funding email grants@calderdale.gov.uk or call Steve Martin on 01422 392317.