By KLTV Newsdesk – 

£279,000 investment to support creative, cultural and wellbeing initiatives across the district

Community groups across Kirklees are set to deliver a wide range of creative, cultural and wellbeing projects after securing funding through the Our Cultural Heart Fund.

Delivered in partnership between Kirklees Council, One Community and BAM Construction, the fund aims to support organisations that celebrate culture, heritage and community wellbeing while creating new opportunities for residents to connect, learn and take part in local activities.

Strong demand highlights community creativity

Interest in the fund far exceeded expectations, with 85 applications submitted requesting more than £1.3 million in support.

With just under £280,000 available, the programme was highly competitive. Following a detailed assessment process, 22 projects were selected for funding, including 14 receiving full awards and eight receiving partial funding.

Funding supports diverse community initiatives

The fund was delivered through two grant streams:

• Up to £10,000 grants: nine projects supported, with £58,466 awarded.
• £10,000–£25,000 grants: 13 projects supported, with £220,884.10 awarded.

In total, £279,350.10 has been invested in community-led projects across Kirklees.

The successful projects reflect the diversity, creativity and ambition of local communities.

Initiatives range from transforming unused spaces into community gardens to delivering arts festivals, school programmes and activities for young children and families.

Residents can also look forward to community carnivals, exhibitions, shared meals and creative workshops, alongside opportunities to participate in music, dance and performance activities.

Several projects will focus on skills development in areas such as broadcasting, sustainable fashion and creative production, helping participants gain confidence and explore new opportunities.

Others will celebrate local identity and heritage through storytelling, visual arts and oral history projects, ensuring a broad range of voices and experiences are represented.

Collectively, the projects are expected to engage thousands of people across Kirklees and strengthen connections between communities.

Investing in people as well as places

David Shepherd, Executive Director for Place at Kirklees Council, said: “The response to the Our Cultural Heart Fund has been exceptional and clearly demonstrates both the scale of demand and the strength of creativity within our communities.

“This fund is about investing in people as much as place, supporting projects that bring communities together, celebrate local identity and create opportunities for more people to take part in cultural activity across Kirklees.

“While we were not able to support every application, the projects receiving funding represent a strong and diverse programme that will deliver real impact, from improving wellbeing and tackling isolation to creating new opportunities for skills development and participation.

“Our Cultural Heart is a key part of our wider vision to create a more vibrant, inclusive and connected Kirklees, and this fund is an important step in making sure that investment is felt in communities right across the district.”

Hayley Austin, Chief Executive of One Community, added: “One Community is delighted to have worked in partnership with Kirklees Council and BAM Construction to deliver the Our Cultural Heart Fund, supporting a diverse range of creative and cultural projects across Kirklees.

“The level of interest in this fund was exceptional, with demand significantly exceeding the available budget, which made the decision-making process highly competitive. While it was not possible to fund every application, the quality, ambition, and community focus of the proposals submitted was outstanding.

“We are proud to see investment going into projects that will strengthen community connections, celebrate local culture and heritage, and improve wellbeing across Kirklees. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects will deliver over the coming months.”

No further funding round planned for 2026

Due to the overwhelming demand, the available funding has now been fully allocated through this first round, meaning there will not be a second round of the Our Cultural Heart Fund in 2026.

However, further funding opportunities are expected in the future, with details to be announced once confirmed.