Cast, the Doncaster theatre, has been awarded £60,000 by the Garfield Weston Foundation to support its community projects over the next two years. The grant will cover core running costs of the venue's Participation team, enabling it to continue offering creative workshops, youth groups and social activities.
The theatre engages thousands of residents each year, including older adults, disabled people, families facing financial difficulties, and individuals experiencing mental health challenges. In a typical year, Cast hosts more than 700 sessions aimed at reducing loneliness and boosting confidence across the borough.
Funding secures vital outreach work
The new funding will sustain early years groups for babies, the youth theatre for ages three to 26, and an all-ages drama group that includes performers up to the age of 86. Outreach sessions run in partnership with local organisations will also continue, helping to make the arts accessible to people from underrepresented backgrounds.
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."
Building stronger communities
Clough added: "Our Participation Programme exists because of the incredible relationships we've built with our communities. This funding allows us to continue listening, responding and creating opportunities that reflect what local people want and need, ensuring everyone feels welcome, valued and able to belong at Cast."
The grant arrives as cultural venues across the country face rising financial pressures, helping to secure the long-term future of the venue's outreach work. James Blakey, director of Cast, said: "We're incredibly grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation for recognising the importance of this work. This investment is about people."
A place where everyone belongs
Blakey continued: "It enables our expert Participation team to continue creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where creativity can flourish and where people from every background can experience the life-changing benefits of the arts. This funding strengthens our commitment to making Cast a place where everyone belongs and where creativity plays a central role in building healthier, happier and more connected communities across Doncaster."
One local 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."
