A new community fund worth £15,000 has been made available by Cradle to Career (C2C) to support families in North Birkenhead who have great ideas to boost their community.
The Cradle to Career Working Group has created the exciting new #OurNorthEnd Community Seed Fund, to finance community-led projects that families in the area feel they need to be able to thrive.
Individuals and community organisations can apply for one-off grants of up to £1,000 to develop activities or experiences in North Birkenhead that will have a lasting impact on their community, or to test out a new idea that they have but never had the opportunity to put into practice.
In addition, a community mural competition has been launched by the C2C group, which is appealing for residents in North Birkenhead to vote for one of three local heroes who will be painted as a 30-foot mural in the heart of the town. Liverpool City Region Artist of the Year, Paul Curtis, best known for his striking turquoise “wings” mural in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, will complete the project having been selected during an open commissioning process.
The nominees for the mural are Everton FC, Tranmere FC and England great Dixie Dean, country music legend and Birkenhead son Charlie Landsborough, and the town’s first female mayor Lady Mary Ann Mercer. In the coming weeks, all residents of North Birkenhead will receive a postcard via Royal Mail and have the opportunity to choose who they would like to honour in the town.
Speaking about the inspiring new fund, Eve Barrett, trust manager for North Birkenhead Development Trust and chair of the Community Working Group, said: “We know that local people are the experts in what their community wants and needs.
“The Community Seed Fund is a tangible opportunity for local people to be in control of the purse strings, and an opportunity for them to make the changes they want to see in the area.”
About the mural, Eve added: “The murals are a celebration of the passion, talent and creativity that has come from the North End over the years.
“This competition means local people, of all ages and backgrounds, are the ones deciding which part of our wonderful past we are celebrating.”
Artist Paul Curtis said: “I’m really proud to be asked to paint the mural of a local legend in North Birkenhead. I can’t wait to see who the community chooses and get designing something iconic to celebrate the people and history of this area.”
Those interested in applying for the #OurNorthEnd Community Fund or nominating someone else should do so by 9am on Monday, June 21 2021, via an application form or on the Cradle to Career website.
Video and audio applications are also being welcomed and ‘How to Apply’ Zoom chats have been arranged for Saturday June 5, 1-2pm, Monday June 7, 2-3pm and Wednesday June 9, 8.30-9.30pm.
Cradle to Career is a multi-million-pound initiative that will transform the lives of children and young people in North Birkenhead, boosting literacy standards, supporting families and creating opportunities for residents for up to 20 years.
Charitable donations of almost £3 million over three years have been pledged by the Steve Morgan Foundation, SHINE Trust and UBS Optimus.
The Cradle to Career team will be based at St James Centre when Covid-19 restrictions allow, but for further information, please contact cradle2career@righttosucceed.org.uk.