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Creative Central NCL has launched Creative Impact: Skills Boost, a funding opportunity to support training and skills development for staff and volunteers working in Newcastle’s cultural venues and organisations.
The fund is designed to help organisations respond to skills gaps, build capacity, and invest in the people who keep the city’s cultural sector moving.
Applications are open on a rolling basis.
What is Creative Impact: Skills Boost?
Creative Impact: Skills Boost is a targeted strand of the wider Creative Impact programme, focused specifically on individual and workforce development.
Funding can support new training activity, including accredited and non-accredited courses, professional development, leadership training, technical and specialist skills training, digital or operational training, compliance-related training, workshops and short courses.
The training must show a clear benefit to the organisation and the people taking part.
Who can apply?
Applications are welcome from cultural venues and organisations based in Newcastle upon Tyne, including music venues, galleries, theatres and museums.
Applicants will need to show a clear need for skills development, as well as the ability to manage the funding and related administration.
How much funding is available?
Organisations can apply for:
Up to £250 per person, per skill or course
Up to a maximum of £6,000 per organisation
This is a reimbursement grant, which means organisations must be able to pay for the training upfront. Creative Central NCL will then reimburse costs once the required evidence has been submitted.
What can the funding cover?
Eligible costs include course fees, training provider charges and certification costs. The fund cannot cover staff salaries, general operational costs, travel, accommodation, hospitality, or attendance at events and conferences where there is no structured learning.
Training must be new activity. Funding cannot be awarded retrospectively for training that has already taken place.
Why apply?
The cultural and creative sector depends on skilled, adaptable people. This fund is intended to help organisations invest in their teams, whether that means strengthening technical skills, developing leadership, improving digital confidence, meeting compliance requirements, or supporting volunteers to take on new responsibilities.
Creative Impact: Skills Boost is about practical support with a clear outcome: helping cultural organisations in Newcastle become stronger, more resilient and better equipped for the future.
How to apply
Read the guidelines in full, guidelines can be downloaded here.
Download and complete the short application form, the application form can be downloaded here.
Email the completed application to: businesssupport@newcastle.gov.uk
Please use the subject line: Creative Impact: Skills Boost
The application form asks for information about the training being proposed, who will benefit, the expected impact, and the costs and training provider details.
If you have questions or would like support identifying training providers, contact the Creative Central NCL team before submitting your application at: info@creativecentralncl.co.uk
Applications are assessed against demonstrated need for skills development, value for money, clarity of the proposed activity, and likely impact on the organisation and workforce.