Award-winning Ruddington museum, the Framework Knitters’ Museum, has completed work on a brand-new garden shelter after receiving funds from Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF).
The project included adapting the museum’s summer house to create an accessible and covered space in its garden, which can now be used by community groups and local businesses.
Since the work was completed, the Framework Knitters’ Museum has hosted tea ceremonies for Lunar New Year and welcomed children from the local Hermitage Pre-school.
This is one of 15 projects to receive grants between £5,000 and £40,000 in 2023/4 from Rushcliffe Borough Council as part of its £400,000 allocation to grants from UKSPF and Rural England Prosperity Funding (REPF) – which in turn is part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda to provide funding for local investment.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Director of Development & Economic Growth, Leanne Ashmore, said: “Through UKSPF, we were really pleased to support this exciting project which has helped create a new accessible and sheltered space in the museum’s garden which can be used all year round.
“It’s great to see this new facility is now being used by a variety of community groups and local businesses for meetings, events, workshops and more.
“The Framework Knitters’ Museum is a fantastic landmark in the borough with a rich history and attracts thousands of visitors each year. The new garden shelter is a great asset to the site which has enabled the museum to accommodate demand for a community space.”
Sarah Godfrey, Creative & Commercial Manager at the museum, said: “We’re very grateful to Rushcliffe Borough Council and the UKSPF funding; not only has it improved our outside space, but it’s also allowed us to create a much more accessible area.
“Since work finished on the summer house, we’ve welcomed a variety of groups and organisations to use the space. Now our garden is fit for use in all weather types, we have bookings throughout the year, which has helped create another source of income for the museum.”