Westbury Festival gets boost with town council grant

WESTBURY Festival has received a significant financial boost from Westbury Town Council, securing the future of the festival.

Councillors voted overwhelming to support a recommendation from the Policy and Resources committee to give the festival a  £4,900 grant for this year’s event and, if possible, do the same for next year.

At the town council meeting last week, members of the festival committee spoke passionately about how important the festival is for Westbury and how a grant would enable the committee to plan ahead for the future.

Councillor Gordon King said, “The festival is a very important part of the town and this grant protects and secures its future.”

Festival chairman Ian Cunningham said, “This vote of confidence from Westbury Town Council is a huge boost for the Festival. Not only is the money extremely useful in the same way as any money, but guaranteed funding at an early stage is very powerful, helping us plan and commit with more confidence.

“We feel certain that this 10th festival is now on track to be our best yet. Support from our local council is an important consideration for other funders and grant awarding bodies, so we hope to use this backing to encourage others to come on board.

“In addition to the positive support from so many councillors, I was personally taken aback at how many people gave up their time to come to the council meeting and speak so enthusiastically in favour of the festival. It says much for those who have worked so hard over the years and those who had the vision to start a festival in Westbury, that so many people and groups have been touched by what the Festival does and felt it worth saying so publicly.

“We still need to raise more money, but on the same day, we received confirmation that Co-Operative Funeral Care in Westbury will be joining us as a commercial event sponsor again this year.

“Anyone who is interested in sponsoring the festival from a single event or brochure advertisement to being a principal sponsor please contact Ward Jones sponsorship@westburyfestival.org.uk”