Popular arts and community centre in Lancaster celebrates after £20k boost from National Lottery

The grant will be used to extend the ways in which the charity involves volunteers in all aspects of the centre’s activity.

The Gregson will use the grant to provide new, more diverse volunteering opportunities, empower volunteers to take a more active role in how the charity operates and to engage with a wider range of local people in planning and delivering key priorities to keep the Centre thriving and developing.

Built for the community in 1889, the Gregson is Lancaster’s oldest community hub and today is a community led and community owned resource for the city.

A small staff team, supported by over 100 volunteers, works to deliver its mission: ‘for people to be in the driving seat of their community events and cultural experiences.’

The Gregson is a busy hub and home to over 70 regular community groups with everything from Parent and Child Groups, Crafting clubs and Community Choirs as well as hosting a range of one off gigs, theatre shows and screenings in the centre’s Secret Cinema.

Volunteers have been the lifeblood of the charity in recent years.

During the pandemic, 70 local people saved the centre from closure.

Today, volunteers undertake a large number of roles with the support of a part time Volunteer Co-ordinator who thanks to National Lottery Funding will work increased hours with a focus on

developing new and innovative ways to engage volunteers, with an additional focus on welcoming in people who may be socially anxious or isolated.

The charity will focus on creating ‘Volunteer Hubs’ which will take responsibility for key areas of the charity and report back to the Board of Trustees.

Volunteers will be involved in design, procurement, community engagement, podcasting, capital development, sustainability and health and wellbeing initiatives.

Charles Tyrer, chief executive of The Gregson said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work and the importance we place on volunteering. The Gregson

has always been shaped by the people around it and this funding offers us the opportunity to engage more deeply with local people and volunteers to ensure the Gregson is a truly responsive

community and arts organisation.”

Lisa Shrimpton, The Gregson’s volunteer co-ordinator said: “We are constantly inspired by our volunteers’ ideas and commitment. This grant means we can really extend the ways in which we find

comfortable roles for people who want to get involved, utilise their skills, interests and experience and keep learning and developing in response to what they tell us should be happening next!

"If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at the Gregson, please look at the Volunteering page on our website or contact me at [email protected].”