Everyman Theatre launches £1 million Grove Street Appeal to refurbish new creative arts hub

The Everyman Theatre has launched a brand-new fundraising campaign, the Grove Street Appeal, to transform an existing facility in west Cheltenham into a vibrant community centre and education hub — with panto star Tweedy the Clown lending a 'helping' hand to knock down the first wall. 

Hoping to raise a grand total of £1 million, the theatre hopes the new centre will break down geographic, social, cultural and financial barriers by providing a centrally located and welcoming space for all, at the heart of the community.

The theatre has already invested more than £300,000 so far, which includes the purchase of the building, with the newly launched fundraising campaign aiming to help the Everyman to change lives through arts, culture and community — taking a big step forward for inclusion in the arts for Cheltenham and Gloucestershire as a whole.

As a registered charity, the theatre’s profits are reinvested into expanding its outreach work. 

The Everyman’s award-winning Education and Community team work with over 22,000 people each year, delivering a range of initiatives which help to improve mental health and wellbeing, with the new centre creating more opportunities for under-served groups to enjoy life-changing and uplifting projects.

Mark Goucher, CEO of the Everyman Theatre, said: 'This is all about education and community work, particularly for young people, for youth clubs, for youth theatre, for summer schools...  

'It was my aspiration when I came to the theatre seven years ago that we expanded the education and community work. And unlike a lot of arts organisations up and down the country, we are in the very fortunate position that we had the money to buy this building. 

'But the whole point of today is to launch a £1 million appeal to start the refurbishment on it and to raise money so we can start running it — and I'm really excited. 

'I'm also excited that it's in an area of Cheltenham which does not have great facilities. I hope that there's lots of people down here who will really benefit from this being in their area. And I'm glad that we could keep it as a community building, transform it and really add benefits to west Cheltenham.'

For more information, or to support the fundraising effort, visit everymantheatre.org.uk/grove-street-appeal.