Parades, processions and festivals will be taking place around Plymouth neighbourhoods thanks to the final round of Mayflower 400 Community Sparks.
More than £40,000 has been awarded to 17 projects. It brings the total number of grass-roots community, arts and cultural activity to 60. The latest successful projects are:
- Whitleigh Big Local awarded £4,000 for a night-time lantern and light parade in Aylesbury Field this October. The funding will support workshops for residents to create lanterns using sea journeys as their inspiration.
- ‘You are welcome here’ by Imperfect Orchestra awarded £3,800 to help fund internationally-focused jam sessions and produce an audio-visual installation with refugee and migrant communities.
- Timebank South West awarded £3,200 for staff and volunteers to cook and host a ‘Mayflower Feast’ in November. They help people to be active in their communities and support neighbourhood timebanks in Barne Barton, Devonport, Efford, Ernesettle, Honicknowle, North Prospect, Stonehouse and Whitleigh.
- Plymouth Hebrew Congregation awarded £3,004 to produce a new audio trail with Ripple Theatre Co for its cemetery in Gifford Place. The trail will include family memories and cultural references to Jewish burial practices.
- The special relationship between Devonport residents and the USA will be celebrated in a large-scale event in Devonport Park this summer. The Friends of Devonport Park will receive £3,000 to support the event, which will feature a procession, vintage wartime vehicles, live music, dancing and food.
- Friends and Families of Special Children will take a boat trip with a difference. An award of £2,922 will enable 102 disabled children and family members, representing 102 Mayflower passengers, to sail out to the breakwater. A theatre performer dressed as Captain Christopher Jones will provide waterside entertainment.
- £2,800 awarded to Community Horizons CIO to support a multi-cultural women’s group which will use curated images to explore topics such as FGM, domestic abuse and women’s identity. The project will culminate in a photography exhibition by women and for women in Plymouth.
- £2,650 will enable Eggbuckland residents to hold the ‘Mayflower 400 Farm Fest’ this August. This event and a series of workshops will celebrate the area’s farming heritage and bring isolated elderly people together.
- £2,575 for the Mayflower Trail 2020 Visually Impaired Guided Adventure project. This will support the Improving Lives Plymouth’s Sensory Solutions Service, enabling members and others with a visual impairment to access the Mayflower Heritage Trails around the Barbican and enjoy a cream tea afterwards.
- £2,300 to the Friends of Wyndham Square for a flag procession that will take place during the Plymouth Art Weekender in September. The flags will then be installed around North Stonehouse.
- £2,245 to the Befriending Consortium which provides support, group activities and one-to-one befriending for some of Plymouth’s most vulnerable, isolated older people. It will help their clients enjoy exciting events in the Mayflower programme including the Mayflower Muster and Settlement.
- £2,000 to support a festival on the village green in Oreston, organisd by the social events team of the Plym Yacht Club. Guests will include members of the Plymouth Yacht Club, Massachusetts, New England.
- £1,900 to Glenholt Community Hub to host a 17th century fancy dress party. The ‘Our Street Party in the Park’ event will have a nautical and seafaring adventures theme.
- £1,800 to Southway Playcare CIO to provide exciting Mayflower-themed activities and trips this summer for the many children that use the service.
Other recipients include Provide Devon and Shakespeare Primary School who have been awarded £1,000 to produce bespoke reusable bags for crisis food packs. The Friends of the old Hill Park project will receive £810 to run oral history sessions and a guided tour and the Plymouth Clarion Male Voice Choir has received £460 to commission a piece of music to commemorate Mayflower 400. The choir will also produce a concert at St Bartholomew’s Church, Milehouse.
Councillor Peter Smith, Deputy Leader said: “This final round of funding brings the Mayflower 400 Community Sparks scheme to a brilliant conclusion. Supporting 60 different community-based projects is such an achievement and everyone involved should be very proud of what they’ve helped to create. The scheme has ensured there’s a programme of exciting community driven activities and events taking place across Plymouth throughout this historic year.”
Mayflower 400 Community Sparks is a partnership between Mayflower 400, Plymouth Culture, Plymouth City Council, The Box and Vital Sparks.
Stay up to date with all the Mayflower 400 Community Sparks events at www.mayflower400uk.org