DECISION:
To provide funding of £250 to the above project.
Reason for decision:
Unemployment in Folkestone is above national average, particularly 18-24 years old, with more than a quarter of low income families in Kent living in Shepway or Thanet. Women are also significantly less economically active in/around Shepway than men. These linked issues give rise to a number of social and cultural needs that Custom will address:
1. Access to work experience and employment.
2. Access to uplifting cultural experiences.
3. Community working together to create change.
To benefit those most in need, we have been developing an outreach strategy with a total number of local organisations including Shepway Youth Hub/Up on the Downs, Kent Downs AONB, Creative Foundation learning and engagement. Folkestone Fringe and Folkestone Women’s forum. In order to facilitate our exchange programme we are also building relationships with local allotment groups Harbour Community Garden, Black Bull Allotments, the Kiln Lane Allotments and Cantiaci. We have undertaken significant ‘other the ground’ market research, talking to as many members of the community as possible, leading to great community support, as demonstrated by many pledges and support comments on our crowdfunding campaign, the many people who have volunteered themselves to help get the project underway and our success at community pitch forum “Folkestone Soup”.