Our funding in action – We re-launched our Annual Fund, aimed at nurturing new projects and community literature activity, at the beginning of 2018. We have since awarded a total of 24 grants to some fantastic, wide-ranging literature projects that span our large South West region.

Each year we give the Annual Fund a different strategic theme, although any strong projects that meet the criteria are eligible for consideration. The theme in 2021 was ‘The Outdoors’, last year’s theme was ‘Reading Development’.

Most recently, in Winter 2021, the Annual Fund made grants to Creative Mojo in Waterlooville, Hampshire, Okehampton Community Garden in Devon and The Women’s Community Forum in Somerset. In Summer 2021, the Annual Fund made grants to Whitchurch Children’s Festival in Hampshire, North Cornwall Book Festival in Cornwall and Storytale Festival in Bristol. In Winter 2020, we funded Outsider Writers in Bournemouth, Art and Energy in Exeter, PaddleBoat Theatre Company in Exeter and Weston Writers’ Nights in Weston-super-Mare. In Spring 2020, we funded Take A Part in Plymouth, The Palace Theatre in Paignton and Frome Library in Somerset. In Winter 2019, we funded Friends of Henleaze Library in Bristol, The Inclusion Agency in Devon and Wadebridge School in Cornwall. In Spring 2019, we funded Mothership Writers in Bristol, Lapidus in Cornwall and Prime Theatre in Swindon.