News: Rotherham shortlisted to become first UK Town of Culture

From nearly 400 bids, Rotherham has been shortlisted to become the UK's first Town of Culture, reports Visit Rotherham.

Visit Rotherham reported on a bid to the national competition last week.

Adding to the UK City of Culture, the competition is open to small, medium and large towns, with the winner delivering a vibrant cultural programme. Showcasing towns’ local visions and voices - through new arts venues, performances, workshops and more - this competition brings local investment, creates a lasting sense of pride in towns, and opens doors to the arts for everyone.

From 398 bids, Rotherham has made it into the final 15 towns still in the running to host the programme year.

It comes on the back of Rotherham's landmark year as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025, a pioneering, award-winning programme that put young people at the heart of arts, culture and creativity.

Rotherham's bid focuses on the real-life stories of place, saying: "We come from the England people don't put on postcards. We became the town people told stories about. The next chapter is where we stop asking whether Rotherham deserves a better future and start writing it."

Rotherham’s cultural offer is strengthened by a diverse network of organisations working both independently and in partnership. These include literacy charity Grimm & Co, which is set to become the national centre for folk and fairy tales, Flux Rotherham, part of Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme, which works alongside communities across the borough to increase participation in arts and culture, and ROAR, which provides vital support for independent artists and creatives.

Together with major visitor attractions such as Magna Science Adventure Centre and Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park, they contribute to an increasingly confident cultural environment.

Rotherham's outdoor venues further strengthen that landscape, including the award-winning Clifton Park, Rother Valley Country Park which has recently seen major investment, and Wentworth Woodhouse, one of Britain's grandest stately homes, which has become a major cultural and tourism destination following significant restoration work. In 2025, the historic estate welcomed thousands of visitors when it hosted the prestigious RHS Flower Show.

Rotherham's bid says: "Our Rotherham - and your nation - isn't defined by its past. It's driven by it. Join us as we become your UK Town of Culture."

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: "The shortlisting for UK Town of Culture 2028 is great news for Rotherham and great recognition of the hard work over many years of the whole partnership. From becoming the world's first Children's Capital of Culture to the Women's Euros and our growing local events programme, Rotherham has shown how cultural events can inspire people and bring communities together. Our bid was based not on some abstract art, but on the real experience of our community, the people who live here, and the highs and lows we've been through together.

"We have an incredible story to tell - and not necessarily the story others might impose on us. It's supported by iconic landmarks such as Wentworth Woodhouse and Clifton Park to events like the Rotherham Show that are woven into the fabric of our lives. This shortlist is a tribute to everyone who contributes to making Rotherham such a vibrant and welcoming place."

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom, said: “Rotherham wears its Yorkshire identity with real pride, and they’re rightly proud of their incredibly rich cultural life. Like so many of our great industrial towns, its strength comes from that deep sense of community and from the creativity of the people who call it home. I'm very excited to see how Rotherham makes its case to be the first ever UK Town of Culture.”

15 towns will now compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title. The shortlisted towns are:

Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham

Shortlisted towns will now receive £60,000 each to finalise their bids, which will explain how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower their local communities and provide more accessible culture in their local area.

From these fifteen shortlisted towns, an independent panel will recommend the best small, medium and large town from the full applications they receive. An overall winner from these three towns will be designated the “UK Town of Culture 2028” and receive a £3m grant from the government. The additional two towns, from the other two categories, will be selected as finalists and receive £250,000 each to carry out part of their programme.

The winner will go on to host a season of culture in 2028, which will help them to deliver a long-lasting legacy of cultural participation and local pride as has been seen in previous winners of the UK City of Culture competition; Derry-Londonderry 2013, Hull 2017, Coventry 2021 and Bradford 2025.

Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said: "The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK. It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have, and continue to contribute to our national story.

"That of course has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners.

"I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn’t manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK’s cultural landscape. I’d like to thank them all for that."

Images: Children's Capital of Culture

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News: Tourism boosted Rotherham economy by half a billion pounds in 2024

The latest visitor figures have been released by South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership showing significant growth across the region, especially in Rotherham.

An estimated 36.3 million tourism visits were made to South Yorkshire in 2024 bringing a £3.7 billion boost to the region’s visitor economy. This included 32.3 million tourism visits made by day visitors, showing a 5% increase on the previous year, and a 10.5% increase since 2022. Visitors staying in the region were estimated to have spent 9.4m nights in local accommodation.

The data commissioned via the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership and processed by Global Tourism Solution’s STEAM Report, also revealed that visitor activity and spend supports more than 32,101 full time equivalent jobs locally, making it a key sector within the region.

For Rotherham, A total of £509m was generated directly and indirectly within the local economy through visitor and tourism business expenditure, with the economic impact 12.2% up on the previous year.

The stats showed that there were 5.35 million tourism visits to Rotherham in 2024, up 7.5%, and that visitor activity and spend supports more than 4,543 full time equivalent jobs in the borough.

For comparison, in South Yorkshire’s other town, Barnsley, there were 3.9 million tourism visits (up 0.2%), with £382m generated directly and indirectly within the local economy through visitor and tourism business expenditure (up 6.1.%).

Sheffield welcomed 17.4 million visitors, up 4.8% from 2023, generating £1.85 billion – a 10% increase on the previous year.

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Rotherham is home to various visitor attractions such as Gulliver's Valley, Magna, Wentworth Woodhouse and Grimm & Co.

Rothbiz reported last year that The Reytons’ sell-out homecoming gig in Rotherham provided a big boost for the local economy. A study by Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the July 2024 event contributed an impressive £1m to Rotherham’s economy and £1.36m benefit for South Yorkshire.

It marked the largest outdoor music event ever held at Clifton Park, attracting around 20,000 people.

Following a £1.9m refurbishment and upgrade programme, Magna Science Adventure Centre saw annual visitor numbers increase by 20%, going from 87,622 in 2023 to 104,833 in 2024.

2024 also marked the opening of Forge Island which brought a cinema back to Rotherham town centre for the first time in over 30 years.

This year the RHS Flower Show recently visited Rotherham at Wentworth Woodhouse. With the Grade-I listed house as the backdrop, this popular event for gardening enthusiasts and families alike attracted thousands of visitors for the iconic floral displays, talks and tips, markets, stalls, children’s activities as well as delicious food and drink.

2025 also sees Rotherham home to the Children’s Capital of Culture. Created by the children and young people of Rotherham, the festival has already been a huge success with a full programme of events and activities featuring music, dance, drama, film and exhibitions.

Sarah McLeod, CEO of Wentworth Woodhouse and Chair of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, said “The STEAM data is invaluable for us a partnership and for the wider visitor economy as it clearly highlights the vital role of this sector in South Yorkshire. By working collaboratively, we can drive sustainable growth, ensuring that—now more than ever—we encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more with our local businesses.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “We are home to an incredible array of culture, creativity and character. From world-class festivals and iconic sporting events to museums that tell our story and music that’s known around the world - we are a place that inspires.

“Our heritage and culture don’t just enrich our lives and shape who we are - they drive our economy too. With a £3.7billion boost and over 32,000 jobs supported, the impact of arts, culture, and tourism is clear: when we invest in our people our places and our stories, we create growth and opportunity, and we build hope.”

The South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership (SYLVEP) is a collaboration between Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) and the private sector. Its purpose is to work collectively on shared priorities and targets to foster the growth of the local visitor economy.

Images: The Reytons / Magna

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News: Grimm & Co wins prestigious Cultural Enterprise Award for Best Visitor Experience

Grimm & Co, the Rotherham-based children's literacy charity that helped inspire the world's first Children's Capital of Culture, has been recognised with a prestigious Cultural Enterprise Award in the Best Visitor Experience category.

The announcement came at an awards ceremony in Liverpool, where Founding Chief Executive Deborah Bullivant proudly collected the award. Other winners included the National Trust and the British Library.

The Cultural Enterprise Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the cultural and heritage sectors. Grimm & Co's recognition alongside these renowned organisations highlights the charity's significant impact and the quality of experience it provides to visitors.

Deborah Bullivant, CEO and founder of Grimm & Co, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to receive this recognition for our visitor experience. This award belongs to our incredible team, volunteers, and most importantly, the children and young people whose creativity and imagination drive everything we do at Grimm & Co.

“To be recognised alongside such established cultural institutions validates our approach of putting young voices at the heart of cultural experiences. Our Emporium of Stories with Feastery café, a story marketplace and Apothecary to the Magical are open to all and this award demonstrates the quality of experience people receive when they visit Grimm & Co.”

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Based in Rotherham town centre, Grimm & Co has been instrumental in the borough's cultural transformation, having sparked the movement that led to the town becoming the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025.

The charity's initial project in 2017 asked local young people: 'If you were in charge of Rotherham, what would you do?' – a question that ignited a youth-led vision for the town's future.

Converting a former church building, the award-winning visitor experience at Grimm & Co combines storytelling, imagination, and creative learning in ways that inspire both children and adults. The charity's approach has proven that cultural experiences designed with and for young people can achieve national recognition for excellence.

The recognition comes as Grimm & Co continues to play a key role in the town's extensive cultural programming for 2025, which includes festivals, creative learning projects in schools, and employment opportunities for young people in the creative industries, supported by Arts Council England.

Grimm & Co website

Images: Grimm & Co

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News: Art group to reimagine Rotherham town centre

A free festival in Rotherham town centre will feature a captivating trail of projection installations. It follows on from last year's popular Museum of The Moon event.

As part of the year-long celebration of the borough becoming the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture, Rotherham will host a free Winter Festival from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th January 2025.

The government-funded programme, Flux Rotherham, which is boosting involvement in creativity and culture in the borough, has announced a unique collaboration with the renowned theatre company, imitating the dog. Chosen by Children’s Capital of Culture’s Youth Programming Panel, they have a key role in helping programme the year-long festival.

The vision is to imagine a place where nothing is quite as it seems; where the imaginations of young people have transformed the town, giving it an otherworldly twist. This is “Otherham,” a magical town where stone walls might open portals to new worlds, where you can order the weather with your coffee, and where kindness is delivered by fluttering butterflies. It’s both familiar and fantastical, a reimagined Rotherham that invites you to see the town through a new lens.

Flux Rotherham Programme Director Helen Jones said: “Last year over 10,000 people visited Rotherham Minster during the Winter Festival to visit The Museum of The Moon, which was amazing. But what people told us was they wanted a wider winter festival with more activity across the town, which is designed especially for Rotherham.

“This festival responds to that wish, and with imitating the dog and Grimm & Co. on board, plus the incredible imaginations of Rotherham’s children and young people, we hope to create a free, world-class cultural experience right in the heart of our town.“

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Simon Wainwright, co-Artistic Director at imitating the dog, added: ”We can’t wait to create Otherham for Rotherham’s Winter Festival. It’s a project we dreamed up after an inspirational visit to the town centre and Grimm & Co’s wonderful storytelling emporium; a visit which truly sparked our imaginations and formed the idea to let the city’s young people dream up a magical, unpredictable and out-of-step world. Who knows what we’ll end up creating but that’s the most exciting part – what stories could these buildings contain?”

Flux Rotherham has also confirmed that it will take over Gallery Town, an ambitious project driven by local businesses in 2012 to create the largest open-air Art Gallery in the UK.

It mainly focussed on sharing reproductions of art on buildings across the town centre by schoolchildren, students, local artists and internationally renowned masters. In more recent years, Gallery Town has created the large-scale Camellia Sculpture in All Saints' Square with support from Arts Council project funding.

Many of the original artworks are now deteriorating and need a refresh to contribute to the overall regeneration and visitor experience in the town centre.

New artworks are proposed for new sites such as Forge Island, along the riverbank development and around/within the new markets area.

A post from Flux Rotherham said: "We’ll focus on the creation of art locally led by professional high-quality artists- this would involve children and young people and adults in the community.

"The artworks would reflect a broader range of artistic output including words, digital and 3 dimensional. Collectively we’d look at Gallery Town as a curated evolving mix of murals, sculpture, wall based and other playful public artworks."

Flux Rotherham website

Images: imitating the dog

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News: £4.2m - the cost of Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture in 2025

£4.2m is set to be spent on the Children’s Capital of Culture Festival Programme in Rotherham in 2025, according to a council report.

It is estimated that it will attract external funding in the region of £13.9m.

Rotherham is branding itself as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025. The move is part of a cultural strategy with an action that is described as highlighting Rotherham as "a place people want to visit, where everyone can enjoy Rotherham through the eyes, ears and actions of children and young people."

Using money from the Government's UK Community Renewal Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, work has been ongoing since 2021 to shape what 2025 might include, as well as building partnerships, employing young trainees, Young Artists in Residence and hosting events and pilot activities.

2025 will include more events and festivals, more community and neighbourhood activity, and continued skills and talent development. The key activities in the 2025 festival year include creative and arts activities, sport and physical activities, heritage, reading and author events, leisure, play, gaming, digital, nature and the environment. It will be designed so there will be something for everyone, whatever their age.

The Children’s Capital of Culture is being led by a Cultural Partnership Board with Rotherham Council acting as a facilitator and accountable body for external funding.

The themes have recently been published:

- You’re Not From New York City, You’re From Rov’rum: supporting young people to have agency and create change, building pride in Rotherham as their home.
- Who We Are, Where We Come From: enabling children and young people to develop a sense of community and belonging through the arts and culture, enhancing their mental health and critical thinking.
- Plug In & Play: increasing opportunities for play in digital and physical spaces, as well as fostering physical activity and participation in sport.
- The World Beneath Our Feet: enabling children and young people to engage with nature and their local environment and take action to combat climate change.

Outcomes for the programme are centred around children and young people being proud to call Rotherham their home, be confident that they can establish a career in Rotherham and feel that their mental and physical health is improving.

For Rotherham residents, being the Children's Capital of Culture is designed to create a stronger sense of community cohesion and connection with the local community and help them feel that Rotherham’s reputation is improving regionally and nationally.

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A report to the council's cabinet explains: "To date, £823,700 from the UK Community Renewal Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Arts Council England has been invested into the Children’s Capital of Culture Skills and Talent Development programme, which supports the education, employment and training of young people from Rotherham.

"Delivery partners such as Grimm and Co, Wentworth Woodhouse and Places Leisure and others are expected to secure £5m towards the cost of delivering the programme. Projects which do not have sufficient funding will not be included in the Festival 2025 programme.

"It is estimated that in the region of £4.2m will be spent on the Festival programme in 2025. This figure excludes core costs such as staffing and is subject to confirmation of external funding sources and finalisation of the programme."

Potential pots of funding include those operated by the Arts Council, National Lottery Heritage Fund and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Cllr. David Sheppard, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion & Neighbourhood Working at Rotherham Council, said: "Children’s Capital of Culture was a title bestowed upon Rotherham by its young people. It was devised by them as a way to change how young people feel about their hometown and create positive opportunities for children and young people across the Borough.

"There are many similar programmes which had been devised by a locality. These include Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Our Year – Wakefield District 2024. Additionally, the Mayor of London awards a biannual London Borough of Culture event and Greater Manchester awards an annual Town of Culture.

"The Children’s Capital of Culture commitment has already pulled in millions of pounds to offer events and opportunities to young people that they would otherwise not be able to access otherwise.

"I'm really proud that the Council were delivering on the challenge that has been set and I'm looking forward to a great year ahead in 2025."

Michael Rosen, the children’s author, poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter, recently visited the new premises of Rotherham's literacy charity, Grimm & Co. He said that "sparks immediately flew in his mind" when he heard about the Children’s Capital of Culture idea. He said: "Every time there is a ‘City of Culture’ programme I always think “Oh! I hope they do something with children!” …but the whole idea that you have a Children’s Capital of Culture seems to be absolutely magic!

"To make everybody go through 180 degrees and think about culture and how that will work for children instead of what shall we do for children at one side of what we’re doing over here with opera, and plays and music… it will turn people right round the other way and make them think “well I do this, but how could I do that for children?”

"I think it’s fantastic – an absolutely wonderful idea!”

Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture website

Images: Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture / Facebook

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News: Grimm & Co's novel idea reopens in Rotherham next month

The unique story destination created by Yorkshire literacy charity, Grimm & Co., is opening a new chapter from new premises in Rotherham town centre in April.

Converting the former church on Ship Hill has provided a new home for the charity’s programmes, activities and festivals, and now they are able to offer much more.

The charity has been running since 2014 and was founded by Deborah Bullivant, who developed the story destination and a suite of activities, built on a bedrock of action research that demonstrated real and significant positive impact on literacies for children and young people and families - especially for those communities, often left behind.

Inspired by writer Dave Eggers, who helped to open 826 Valencia in San Francisco in 2002, similar organisations have set up across the globe where in each case, a shop is a façade, and although they sell products, like any other, it is all part of creating a fantastical destination to inspire children to work without knowing they are working, and increase participation in literacy projects through a creative writing and mentoring centre.

The COVID pandemic, the closure of the Rotherham story centre and magical shop on Doncaster Gate, the diversion of promised funds and the enforced cancellation of fundraising events, meant that plans for the new building were put on hold.

But now the shop and café are set to open on April 5, with an official opening in the diary for April 9.

As one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations, Grimm & Co. is supported with a contribution towards core costs and the charity has also been fortunate to secure additional significant capital investment from the Arts Council towards their new home.

The charity delivers story-based family learning activities and creative educational programmes that support teachers, and those working with children and young people, to build imaginative, playful approaches into their practice.

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This new story destination offers a world beyond the original home of Grimm & Co, enabling this charity to deliver three times more than their previous capacity allowed. This magical venue has responded to community demand to expand the offer, providing a welcoming space for anyone to dwell. Step through the arched bright red doors of the castle-like facade to find an Apothecary to the magical, filled with quirky products and comforting book nooks. Step a little further and find the Feastery, a story-themed cafe with delicious treats and snacks. If you are very lucky indeed, you might just find a little extra through a secret door or two.

Alongside work in schools and community settings, the charity has been able to provide exciting school writing workshops, Saturday clubs and after-school programmes from the site since November, but only now is it completely ready to fully open to the public, with no cash barrier, so everyone is welcome to browse and dwell a while.

The shop and the café will help to support the work that the charity does with children, young people and families. The spaces are also available for room hire and events, corporate team builds, and musical and spoken word performances.

Other support and funding has come from Awards for All, Rotherham Council, BBC Children in Need, Key Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Tudor Trust, Hugh Neill Trust, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Future High Streets fund, UKCRF, UKSPF, Changing Places, Reach Fund and contributors, large and small.

Deborah Bullivant, Founding Director of Grimm & Co., said, "We are over the moon that we will have the opportunity to thank our supporters who helped to make this happen and have patiently but enthusiastically monitored progress as we’ve navigated the pandemic amongst other challenges since this project began. We’ve been fortunate that Lumsden Design have provided the ultimate, quality finishes to give us an exceptional and unique destination to be proud of.”

Lisa Pogson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, added: “I am so proud to be a part of this charity and to see first-hand all the incredible work that they do. We are grateful to so many people and organisations who have supported us to reach this point and I can’t wait to celebrate this beautiful community resource with them all!”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “Children and young people sit at the heart of our Let’s Create strategy and Grimm & Co is a fantastic example of a creative organisation putting them right at the centre of its work. We know how important literacy is in developing skills, building confidence and extending horizons, and the workshops, Saturday clubs and activities that Grimm & Co delivers in schools and to the local community are so important in helping children develop their creativity through story-telling. I’m very pleased that the Arts Council has supported the Emporium of Stories which I’m sure will continue to inspire and enthuse its visitors for years to come.”

Grimm & Co website

Images: Grimm & Co.

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News: More new venues in Rotherham town centre

Premises licences are being sought for a number of venues in Rotherham town centre.

Alcohol could be on the menu at a former church building on Ship Hill as literacy charity, Grimm & Co, prepares to open at its magical new location.

Following the purchase of a former church building on Ship Hill in 2020 thanks to support from an Arts Council England small capital grant, Grimm & Co were looking to proceed with the renovation and refurbishment work when lockdown hit.

Now a few years on, the charity has begun hosting workshops and events at its wonderful new space.

In addition to educational space, the new Grimm & Co. location has retail space and a café. Known as The Feastery, it will include story-themed activities for young people to enjoy, a space to catch up with friends, relax with a good book, or simply have a moment of peace in this cozy, magical space.

The premise licence, recently approved by Rotherham Council, allows for the sale of alcohol between 9am and 11pm, everyday.

A spokesperson for Grimm & Co. explained: "We can’t wait to open the doors to our new feastery cafe, book nook and story themed marketplace in our Emporium of Stories! We work with thousands of children and young people every year and we also deliver arts-based learning activities to families and teachers.

"This fabulous new venue will be one of a kind and the funds raised through the cafe, shop and events will help fund activities in the charity. This licence application will help us to provide a food and beverage offer to suit all communities and events."

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At the foot of Rotherham Minster, the operators of a successful café at Rotherham Markets has taken prime space at All Saints' Square.

Work is underway to create Ginge's Tap, a retro music bar specialising in a range of beverages that won't break the bank along with sharing platters and live music.

A premises licence here would enable alcohol to be served between 10am and 11pm in the week and on Friday and Saturday between 10am and midnight.

Just off All Saints' Square, an application has been submitted that would enable a former pub to serve alcohol again.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 that the Red Lion was under review after South Yorkshire Police petitioned for its premises licence to be scrutinised following a number of incidents.

Having applied for a number of temporary licences at the end of 2023, the new application would allow alcohol to be served on every day of the week between 11am and 03:30am the following day.

Travelodge Hotels has recently secured a premises licence in preperation of the opening of its brand new 69-room hotel on Forge Island in the summer.

The "budget-luxe" hotel is set to include a 2,400 sq ft cafe bar on the ground floor.

A 24 hour operation, alcohol could be sold pretty much all the time, but its sale will be restricted to hotel residents and bona fide guests of hotel residents after 11pm when access is to be restricted to residents with a key card.

Grimm & Co. website
Ginge's Tap website
Travelodge website

Images: Grimm & Co. / Muse / Travelodge

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News: Grimm & Co launches crowdfunder campaign as opening nears

Literacy charity, Grimm & Co, has launched a new crowdfunding campaign as it prepares to open its new Emporium of Stories in Rotherham town centre.

Following the purchase of a former church building on Ship Hill in 2020 thanks to support from an Arts Council England small capital grant, Grimm & Co were looking to proceed with the renovation and refurbishment work when lockdown hit.

The closure of the story centre and magical shop on Doncaster Gate, the diversion of promised funds and the enforced cancellation of fundraising events, meant that plans for the building were put on hold and all efforts concentrated on taking their creative delivery to children and young people online and directly into communities.

The charity says that it is now "incredibly close to being able to open our wonderful new space to the public."

An official Grand Opening is scheduled for February 2024.

Leading design experts at Lumsden Design have been brought in to make its new imaginative space a reality.

Lumsden designs retail for destinations – cultural, entertainment and visitor attractions worldwide, including for The British Museum and Harry Potter retail destinations such as Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

With support from Codsteaks Ltd and Cronin, Lumsden and Grimm & Co are creating an Emporium of Stories on Ship Hill that will include three Writer’s Pad spaces, each with its own individual design and feeling. These will be accessed through secret doors, "with an air of wonder and amazement."

The spaces can be used in many different ways, whether we are hosting a school for a story-making workshop, young families enjoying sensory play, a group of teenagers discussing the charity’s projects, a corporate breakfast event, or a spoken word poetry performance.

The café, also known as The Feastery, includes story-themed activities for young people to enjoy and where you can catch up with friends, relax with a good book, or simply have a moment of peace in this cozy, magical space.

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The apothecary is an integral part of raising money for the charity. It is a shop for magical beings to buy their supplies, "but humans are welcome too."

Inspired by writer Dave Eggers, who helped to open 826 Valencia in San Francisco in 2002, it has spawned similar organisations across the globe where in each case, the shop is a façade, and although they sell products, like any other, it is all part of creating a fantastical destination to inspire children to work without knowing they are working, and increase participation in literacy projects through a creative writing and mentoring centre.

The charity, which has worked with over 29,000 children and young people, in school story-making sessions, out of school clubs and family learning sessions, since opening in 2016, is now looking to raise funds so that it can open with a bang.

£25,000 is the target, which is needed so that the charity can put on a wide range of creative sessions this academic year. The aim is to welcome over 3,300 school children to the new Emporium of Stories in the 2023/24 academic year and reach the target of working with 4,000 children and young people.

Deborah Bullivant, founding chief exec at Grimm & Co, said: "Grimm & Co is a charity and we're all about children's literacies, but not just reading and writing, much more than that. We're about resilience, confidence and building children's ability to make meaning of the world around them.

"We are Yorkshire-wide, we're going to work with children right across Yorkshire, but everyone will be able to come here, wherever you're from you'll be able to come and get something to eat in our Feastery, buy something fantastic from our shop, and it's going to be open very soon!

"We're now launching a crowdfunder so that you can be a part of this chapter. You could be in this chapter, you could have your name literally in lights! We are about to do the rest of the building. It's not quite ready yet and this is where you can be part of this journey.

"So please, please, please support our crowdfunder. There's lots of ways you can do that - have a look at the list, small or large, it's up to you, but what that will do is help us to do the charitable work that we do. Thank you so much."

Crowdfunding is a different way to raise money. Rewards are on offer for different levels of donations by supporters of a project or idea. In this case rewards range from receiving a pack of edible magic beans, to paying for a storymaking session for a class of 30, right up to sponsoring a secret door or the beanstalk slide.

Find out more at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-our-story

Grimm & Co website

Images: Grimm & Co / Lumsden

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News: First look at Grimm & Co's newest chapter

Further images have been released of the Emporium of Stories, The Feastery, The Book Nook and Cliffhanger Castle - new magical spaces that are set to open in Rotherham town centre later this year.

Rothbiz revealed in February that literacy charity, Grimm & Co had appointed leading design experts at Lumsden Design to make its new imaginative space a reality.

Lumsden designs retail for destinations – cultural, entertainment and visitor attractions worldwide, including for The British Museum and Harry Potter retail destinations such as Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. They are leading the design, masterplan and fit out for the final phase of the charity's two year building project.

The charity has been running since 2014 and was founded by Deborah Bullivant, who developed the story destination and a suite of activities, built on a bedrock of action research that demonstrated real and significant positive impact on literacies for children and young people and families - especially for those communities, often left behind.

Following the purchase of a former church building on Ship Hill in 2020 thanks to support from an Arts Council England small capital grant, Grimm & Co were looking to proceed with the renovation and refurbishment work when lockdown hit. The closure of the story centre and magical shop on Doncaster Gate, the diversion of promised funds and the enforced cancellation of fundraising events, meant that plans for the building were put on hold and all efforts concentrated on taking their creative delivery to children and young people online and directly into communities.

Now the charity says that it hopes to open on Ship Hill in Autumn 2023.

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Turning the beautiful, gothic, towered building into a wondrous, experiential place that celebrates the joyful discovery of stories, the enhanced and accessible offering includes a story themed café (called The Feastery), the Emporium of Stories (with Book Nook and the Apothecary to the Magical shop), function / theatre / banqueting space (known as Cliffhanger Castle), Grizelda’s Imaginarium and three different Writer’s Pad spaces to welcome schools, families and story lovers from across the region and beyond.

Deborah Bullivant, Founding Director of Grimm & Co said, “We are incredibly thrilled that Lumsden, with an impressive, world class portfolio including the likes of Kew Gardens, The National Gallery and Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The making of Harry Potter in both London & Tokyo, are bringing their expertise, vision and a touch of designer magic to capture our spirit and build our creative vision into a reality.

"Lumsden are listening, designing and transforming this beautiful space into an enchanting place full of awe and wonder, creating Grimm & Co’s Emporium of Stories, an exciting, creative, welcoming, inclusive space for everyone, offering an unusual, imaginative safe space for children, families and visitors of all ages to enjoy. The children and young people who the charity work with are excited to work with Lumsden and have been invaluable advisers to the design and transformation of this truly remarkable building.”

Lisa Pogson, Chair of the Board of Trustees added: “What an exciting milestone for this charity! Lumsden’s reassuring and extensive portfolio demonstrates an impressive array of projects that are functionally fabulous whilst being cutting edge and stunningly innovative. Our vision is in good hands.”

The £2.9m project has secured further funding from the Future High Streets Fund and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (in association with Rotherham Council), together with support from Key Fund, Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, plus support from an anonymous local donor.

James Dwyer, Creative Director of Lumsden Design said “We are immensely proud to collaborate with Grimm & Co, supporting their incredible work inspiring young minds through the transformative power of storytelling. Working with Deborah and her team has been a joyous journey, and together Lumsden and Grimm & Co are creating a magical experience, blending Grimm’s captivating storytelling with enchanting interior design, to spark creativity, ignite imaginations, and help build brighter futures for young people."

Harry, one of Grimm & Co’s Young Leaders, added: “I really enjoyed working on Grizelda’s cabinet, being able to work on the new building was an awesome opportunity. I think Grimm will be a much more magical experience for newcomers, and I’m looking forward to having a look in the new building!”

Behind the scenes sneaky peeks are set to kickstart a crowdfunding campaign that enables businesses, individuals and communities to get involved and become part of the journey to help realise a piece of this history being made.

Grimm & Co website
Lumsden Design website

Images: Grimm & Co / Lumsden

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News: Businesses urged to join with Yorkshire's Hidden Gems

Local businesses are being invited to join some of the region's biggest attractions as part of an initiative to support the visitor economy and encourage people to experience Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems.

The project stems from a pledge to work together to attract more visitors and increase local spend that was strengthened during the recent pandemic, with bosses at key tourism assets in Rotherham keen to see positivity and pride used to promote the area.

Assets to get involved range from theme parks to stately houses. They include Gulliver’s Valley, Wentworth Woodhouse, Magna Science Adventure Centre, Grimm & Co., Rotherham United, Rother Valley Country Park and Clifton Park.

The initiative follows the demise of Welcome to Yorkshire and the publishing of the de Bois Review - an independent review of destination management organisations in England.

Operated by Locial Ltd, Yorkshire's Hidden Gems is being supported by The Rotherham Pioneers - an exclusive group for Rotherham businesses who want to promote the town.

More local businesses are being sought to join the initiative and "become a gem." Attractions, restaurants, tea rooms, hotels, events, leisure spaces, cultural places, shops, anything that is a destination and can offer an experience.

Businesses can sign up for free to feature on the website and social media which promotes news, events and offers.

Businesses can also get involved for free with the Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems discount card scheme that uses offers, discounts and deals to encourage people to shop and visit local.

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At £10 for the year, current offers for cardholders include £15 pp tickets for Gulliver's Valley and 25% off entrance to House and Garden admission at Wentworth Woodhouse. A number of giveaways are planned for the coming months.

Bright Stars Play Space, an engaging and educational play space for babies and toddlers in Parkgate, has joined the initiative.

Caroline Austen, founder of Bright Stars Play Space, said: "We are delighted to be part of Yorkshire's Hidden Gems. As a relatively new business, it puts us alongside the amazing local assets like Gulliver's and Wentworth Woodhouse, which is just fantastic. It's great to see our upcoming Easter parties, craft sessions, Daddy & baby sessions and baby rave on the events calendar.

"There's loads happening around here, I think we just need to shout about it more and uncover these hidden gems. As a family we've got a discount card and we are looking forward to using it, especially at Gulliver's Valley - our daughter's favourite place! If you buy a card for £10, you'll make your money back in savings even if you only go to Gulliver's once in the year."

Bright Stars Play Space website
Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems website

Images: Tom Austen

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News: Funding for fit-out at Grimm & Co

Rotherham-based charity, Grimm & Co, is in line for a funding boost for its innovative new premises that will introduce an Emporium of Stories, The Feastery, The Book Nook and Cliffhanger Castle, to Rotherham town centre.

Leading design experts at Lumsden Design have been appointed to make the imaginitive space a reality.

The charity has been running since 2014 and was founded by Deborah Bullivant, who developed the story destination and a suite of activities, built on a bedrock of action research that demonstrated real and significant positive impact on literacies for children and young people and families - especially for those communities, often left behind.

Following the purchase of a former church building on Ship Hill, Grimm & Co were looking to proceed with the renovation and refurbishment work when lockdown hit. The closure of the story centre and magical shop on Doncaster Gate, the diversion of promised funds and the enforced cancellation of fundraising events, meant that plans for the building were put on hold and all efforts concentrated on taking their creative delivery to children and young people online and directly into communities.

The charity has carried out activities at Clifton Park, Gulliver’s Valley and took space in the Old Town Hall in the town centre.

Having extended its status as a “National Portfolio Organisation” for another three years, with £247,116 per year up to 2026, a tender exercise for the internal fitout works for the new home was completed in June 2022 where costs came back significantly higher than expected.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is now looking to support the £2.9m project with a £620,000 grant.

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Papers explain: "Although the chosen contractor was the lowest priced (as well as the highest scoring tender submission) they are still over the original budget which has led to this funding request of £617k to cover the cost increases, alongside £110k provided by Key Fund.

"This scheme will provide a ‘hub’ for Grimm & Co (a registered charity) to support under-resourced children and young people aged 0 - 18 with their confidence and skills around creativity and writing. Examples of programmes planned to be delivered in the new ‘hub’ by Grimm & Co include: workshops to school children focusing on creative writing; sessions aimed at engaging teachers in professional development; production of digital resources to encourage writing; and a ‘festival of stories’. "

Contractors at TH Michaels are currently on site and Lumsden Design Ltd is set to carry out the fit-out work and the renovated church will become an Emporium of Stories and also include a story themed café called The Feastery, a book shop (The Book Nook) and an entertainment zone - Cliffhanger Castle.

As the charity put it in its annual report: "We invite you to venture into a place unlike anything you’ve seen before, with more learning spaces, more gym equipment for your imaginations, a place to fill your stomach in the Feastery, a place to fill your boots in the Apothecary, a place that is safe and welcoming to all, where children and young people can celebrate being themselves and feel empowered in their own creative abilities, oh, and there’ll also be an overgrown beanstalk too."

Lumsden designs retail for destinations – cultural, entertainment and visitor attractions worldwide, including for The British Museum and Harry Potter retail destinations such as Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

Grimm's shop in the Old Town Hall closes on Saturday February 25 with the online shop remaining available. The opening of the new premises is scheduled for June 2023.

Grimm & Co website

Images: Grimm & Co / Google Maps

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News: Rotherham's new investment strategy includes £28m theatre ambition

Rotherham Council has published a new place-based investment strategy setting out priorities for using funding across the borough up to 2025 and beyond.

It includes things like a new £28m theatre and the expansion of the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation District (AMID).

Replacing the Economic Growth Plan, the strategy takes a place-based approach, responding to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the devolved "South Yorkshire Renewal Fund" which is set to fund projects across the region.

Looking beyond buildings and infrastructure to the needs and assets of its community, the strategic objectives include supporting and diversifying Rotherham’s town centre offer to increase footfall and create a resilient and economically secure place. Other objectives focus on manufacturing, culture, housing, transport, skills and inclusive growth.

Capturing already announced schemes, projects for the town centre from now until 2025 include the £45m leisure-led development of Forge Island, the £31m redevelopment of the markets complex, the £27m cultural quarter around Corporation Street and the £12m of investment into new housing along the riverside.

Cultural projects include the £2.9m expansion for literacy charity, Grimm & Co, and a £9m new library to go alongside the new markets.

Going beyond 2025, a new theatre is included in the strategy and has been given an investment figure of c.£28m.

Rothbiz revealed that the authority had applied to knock down the former Wilkinson's Store on Corporation Street and that the site had been earmarked as the potential location for a new theatre.

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To develop the economy further, the strategy looks at expanding the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation District (AMID) which has developed around the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and is occupied by highend industrial operators such as Boeing and McClaren.

A Land Supply review carried out by Aspinall Verdi consultants in 2022 identifies a geographic cluster for expansion at Templeborough and the opportunity for growth presented by the arrival of a new Mainline Rail Station "must be capitalised upon and the creation of a new industrial growth zone spanning a corridor between Eastwood and Aldwarke must be investigated and maximised."

The document states: "After years of under investment and declining economy the Council’s ambition and drive is now reaping success, the Council has been recognised as the Most Improved in 2022 and alongside its partners has successfully secured over £120m of investment in the Borough’s economy, people and infrastructure.

"However this investment arrives during difficult and changing times, rising costs and a reducing workforce impacts on business sustainability, the ability to deliver capital projects and surety over long-term economic future. The scale of Rotherham’s ambition in the context of current market conditions leads to an approach to investment which will bring focus to delivering current objectives. New investment will complement existing investment, retaining focus on priorities and delivering on promises. Rotherham’s place-based investment strategy will therefore be time bound and this first iteration focusses on investment to 2025.

"At the same time the Council and its partners remain ambitious and continue to plan for sustainable and continued growth, planning for 2025 and beyond and moving to public/private partnership approaches which will see less reliance on public sector interventions."

The strategy is due to go before the Council's cabinet later this month.

Images: RMBC

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News: Funding boost for Rotherham's art and culture sector

Organisations bringing creativity and culture to Rotherham have secured a funding boost from Arts Council England.

The national organisation that champions and develops art and culture across the country has revealed details of its new national portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-26.

In Rotherham, literacy charity, Grimm & Co has extended its status as a “National Portfolio Organisation” for another three years, with £247,116 per year up to 2026.

ROAR (Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance) is also continuing as a portfolio organisation and has secured £71,735 annually for the same period, while Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage has been awarded £250,000 per year and joins the portfolio for the first time.

Grimm & Co, which is currently working on new premises in Rotherham town centre, said that the support provides core funding, critical support, partnership and much more for the next three years. It should enable them to maintain, develop and grow its programmes with children, young people and families across Yorkshire and the Humber.

This funding will support the core of the organisation which will enable the delivery of arts-based creative programmes provided to young people aged 0-18, from early years story-based sensory play to community outreach workshops to Arts Award training with older teenagers, and more recently, teachers’ creative delivery activities and programmes.

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Founding Director, Deborah Bullivant, said: "Grimm & Co have been fortunate to secure National Portfolio status and core funding for four years and this has enabled us to plan, develop and deliver an exciting and innovative programme for communities. We are overjoyed to hear that our recent application is successful, securing our core at a pivotal time for this charity, hurtling towards opening our new, enchanting story destination in 2023."

Chair of the Board, Sarah Dunwell, said: “We are elated to hear that our application to the Arts Council was successful. This enables us to continue to build our programmes, reach and engage communities and to secure our presence as the region’s one and only Emporium of Stories in Rotherham town centre at such a critical time for us.”

ROAR, which is also based in the town centre, said that the new funding "enables us to develop and deliver our unique programme of innovative and inclusive grass roots projects, transforming the town’s unique cultural life through creative practice."

Rotherham Council's Museums, Arts and Heritage service said that the funding "will enable us to continue our work using our collections, venues and spaces to engage with communities across Rotherham."

Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country. We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”

Grimm & Co website
ROAR website

Images: Grimm & Co

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News: Historic Rotherham buildings up for sale

A number of high profile buildings in Rotherham town centre are set to go under the hammer later this month.

At the bottom of Doncaster Gate, the freehold of a prominent building, most recently the home of literacy charity, Grimm & Co, has been placed into auction with local auctioneers, Mark Jenkinson & Son.

At 2,300 sq ft, the site has been given a guide price of £275,000.

The auction catalogue states: "An impressive landmark building occupying a high profile corner position in Rotherham Town Centre. The property comprises a bar and restaurant located over four levels, let for seven years from July 2022 at £30,000 pa. The upper floors had consent for three 2 bed apartments but this has now lapsed."

Back in 2016, Grimm & Co launched an Apothecary to the Magical, selling wild schemes, evil plots, charms, curses and kitchenware, transforming a vacant pub on the site. Converting the former Town Gate pub at the foot of the High Street, the literacy centre above the shop attracted thousands of school children. The charity has moved out, taking on temporary space last year in The Old Town Hall as work gets underway on more space in a former church across town.

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Rothbiz reported in 2021 that applications had been sought for the provision of late night refreshment and the sale of alcohol with Orzo italtian restaurant due to operate from the Doncaster Gate building.

The building is not listed but is on Rotherham District Civic Society's Local List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Interest.

The list entry explains that it was formerly occupied by the historic Pack Horse Inn before being redeveloped as new retail units and a dwellinghouse. It is known by many as Van Allan's, after the ladies outfitter that occupied the building in the 1950's and 60's.

The building was designed by Joseph Platts of Rotherham, the architect who was also responsible for the design of Imperial Buildings and the Masbrough Co-operative premises on the Westgate / Domine Lane corner.

Across town, 4B Bridgegate is also due to be sold at auction in September.

Listed as a "Mixed Commercial / Residential Investment" by agents, Barnsdales, the property is current home to The Plaice To Be fish & chip restaurant with two flats above.

Producing £12,000 per annum, but £23,400 when fully let, the building, which is within the town centre conservation area, has been given a guide price of £175,000.

On the corner of Bridgegate, Commercial Property Rotherham (CPR) are marketing a vacant bank for sale.

Barclays Bank announced plans to close its branch in Rotherham town centre last year, its last remaining branch in the borough.

Offers around £495,000 are being invited for 38 - 40 Bridgegate which extends to 6,800 sq ft and includes ground floor units and offices above which have the potential to be converted into residential use. The listing adds that terms have recently been agreed for the letting of the whole of the ground floor as retail and stores, at an annual rental of £27,000 per annum.

According to Rotherham District Civic Society the bank makes up part of the former White Hart Buildings at All Saints Square. The "new" public house, with entrances to Upper Millgate and Bridgegate was commissioned by Mappins Brewery and was designed by James E. Knight, Architect. The 1920s building, incorporating lock up shops and a suite of offices, was described as being late Georgian in design.

The public house opened on the 12th December 1929 and closed in March 1969 following its acquisition by Barclay's Bank Ltd.

Mark Jenkinson & Son website
Barnsdales website
CPR website

Images: Mark Jenkinson & Son / CPR

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News: Rotherham tourism assets join forces as "Yorkshire's Hidden Gems"

A discount card and an online guide are the jewels in the crown of a pioneering new initiative to support the visitor economy and encourage people to experience Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems.

The project stems from a pledge to work together to attract more visitors and increase local spend that was strengthened during the recent pandemic, with bosses at key tourism assets in Rotherham keen to see positivity and pride used to promote the area.

The first assets to get involved range from theme parks to stately houses. They are Gulliver’s Valley, Wentworth Woodhouse, Magna Science Adventure Centre, Grimm & Co., Rotherham United, Rother Valley Country Park and Clifton Park.

It has now attracted smaller enterprises that offer experiences in the region such as Bright Stars Play Space - an engaging and educational play space for babies and toddlers in Parkgate.

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The initiative comes after the demise of Welcome to Yorkshire and the publishing of the de Bois Review - an independent review of destination management organisations in England.

Operated by Locial Ltd, Yorkshire's Hidden Gems is being supported by The Rotherham Pioneers - an exclusive group for Rotherham businesses who want to promote the town.

More local businesses are being sought to join the initiative and "become a gem." Attractions, restaurants, tea rooms, hotels, events, leisure spaces, cultural places, shops, anything that is a destination and can offer an experience.

Businesses can sign up for free to feature on the website and social media which promotes news, events and offers.

The website says: "Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems has been developed during lockdown to have a collective approach to supporting and helping our businesses, attractions, communities and our people. We want to promote and shout about all the positive places we have and to offer an opportunity for everyone to work together to re-ignite our local economy, preserve jobs and being Yorkshire…save folk a few pennies in the process with our Yorkshire Hidden Gems offers card."

Businesses can also get involved for free with the Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems discount card scheme that uses offers, discounts and deals to encourage people to shop and visit local.

At £7.50 for the year, current offers include £15 pp tickets for Gulliver's Valley and 25% off entrance to House and Garden admission at Wentworth Woodhouse.

Yorkshire's Hidden Gems website

Images: Gulliver's

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News: Over 50 life-changing traineeships for Rotherham's Children's Capital of Culture launch programme

Under 25s in Rotherham are being given a unique opportunity to develop their skills and make their mark in the creative and cultural industries in South Yorkshire, thanks to a dedicated Children’s Capital of Culture upskilling programme.

The six-month-long paid traineeships are enabling 55 young people interested in a creative career path to gain experience at some of Rotherham’s most progressive cultural organisations, including Magna, Wentworth Woodhouse, Gulliver’s Valley Resort, Grimm & Co, Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR), Rotherham United Community Sports Trust (RUCST) and Rotherham Council’s Events Team.

All 55 trainees have been tasked with producing a series of creative summer events that will engage young people in Rotherham and give them a taster of what becoming Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025 will be like. Some of the town’s most experienced creative mentors are working with them to help turn their creative visions into reality, and as well as on-the-job support and mentoring, each trainee has also received a personalised training plan from South Yorkshire training provider, The Source Academy.

Leanne Buchan, Acting Assistant Director for Culture, Sport & Tourism at Rotherham Council, said: “A key part of the Children’s Capital of Culture programme is about giving our young people life-changing skills development and training in the creative and cultural sectors, and these traineeships are doing just that.

“When we advertised the trainee roles, we were blown away by the response and hundreds of young people between 16-25 applied. We appointed the 55 trainees based on their unique visons and aspirations rather than their prior experience, and they have all been placed at the organisations where we feel they will shine brightest and get the most out of their traineeships.

“The feedback we have received from the trainees so far has been fantastic, and they are all really excited to be gaining work experience in areas that interest them and being part of a programme that will genuinely transform Rotherham.”

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The 55 trainees are aged 16-25 and 12 of them are care experienced. They come from a range of backgrounds, with some having no prior experience, while others have been through college or university.

Mitchell Nuttall, 25, is a young actor who is completing his traineeship at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. He said: “I struggled in school as I have a disability, and I didn’t do very well. After leaving I went to college to do performance arts before doing a degree in the same subject. I love acting, but decided it was time to do something different. However, my disabilities make certain things quite difficult, like a lot of 9-5 jobs, and that made finding something pretty hard.

“I was over the moon when I got this role. Everybody has been so supportive, and it’s really helped me to perform in the job, which is a huge achievement for me. It’s made me realise that with the right team around me, I can do well in a working environment and achieve great things.”

Mya Fuller, 17, has loved being on the stage since being a child and is doing her traineeship at South Yorkshire training provider, The Source Academy. She said: “My traineeship is letting me explore my interest in the arts and working at The Source has given me the confidence that anything is possible.

“I can’t wait for Rotherham to be Children’s Capital of Culture. It will be nice for my hometown to be in the spotlight, and it will bring a lot more opportunities to people who live here.”

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Aliya Ahmed, 19, is doing her training at Magna, alongside studying for a photography degree. She said: “A lot of families are against their children going into the creative sector, as they don’t think it’s a proper career path. I want to help change these views, and at Magna I’m working on the production of a careers event for kids that will showcase all the brilliant job opportunities in the creative industries.

“I’m developing so many new skills and getting to meet a lot of new people. I usually only get to work with other people on my photography course, but now I’m getting to work with people who have experience in different areas and I’m learning so much.”

The training programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture website

Images: Children's Capital of Culture

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News: Grimm pops up at Old Town Hall

Rotherham-based charity, Grimm & Co, has taken space in the Old Town Hall in the town centre until its new premises are complete.

Utilising the vacant units temporarily will enable the literacy charity to bring together its workshops and educational activities with its unique retail offering.

Grimm & Co was founded by Deborah Bullivant, who developed the story destination and a suite of activities, built on a bedrock of action research that demonstrated real and significant positive impact on literacies for children and young people and families - especially for those communities, often left behind. The charity has been running since 2014 and has recently moved to new premises in order to meet the high demand and to expand its reach across communities in South Yorkshire and beyond.

Following the purchase of their building on Ship Hill in the centre of Rotherham, Grimm & Co were looking to proceed with the renovation and refurbishment work when lockdown hit in March. The closure of the story centre and magical shop on Doncaster Gate, the diversion of promised funds and the enforced cancellation of fundraising events, meant that plans for the building were put on hold and all efforts concentrated on taking their creative delivery to children and young people online and directly into communities. The charity has recently carried out activities at Clifton Park and Gulliver’s Valley.

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Funding has been granted for the new premises and Grimm are currently in the process of securing the construction contractor, hopeful that the capital project work will begin within the next couple of months.

The new temporary space includes space for workshops, the Forgotten Library and the retail space.

Deborah Bullivant, Founding Chief Executive at gruimm & Co, said: "We are over the moon to be able to open our physical shops to mortals again, we’ve missed you so much! This will mean we can all be together, the shop can show off its wonderful new products and welcome customers to our new, in-between site, whilst helping us to raise the funds for our permanent home. The creative space behind the secret door will also provide a spectacular home for our theatres and our story workshops will be back on the menu plus some new activities for families/carers of younger children too."

Sarah Dunwell, Chair of Grimm & Co’s board, added: "This is an exciting chapter in our story so far and we’re so pleased to be able to open up the charity’s doors once again, in a new, pop-up home in the Old Town Hall, still in the heart of Rotherham."

Opening today (December 21), the shop will also be open on Tuesday (until 4pm), Wednesday (9-4pm) and Thursday (until 1pm).

Grimm & Co website

Images: Grimm & Co

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News: Family friendly vision for Rotherham town centre

The masterplan for Rotherham town centre made clear that retail is not the answer as the focus shifts to other town centre uses such as leisure and housing. Now, those working hard to make the plans a reality have been discussing that the new offer should be family friendly.

The masterplan, adopted in 2017, has the Forge Island project as the one that will kickstart regeneration in the town centre. Work is underway on the site of the former Tesco store that is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

The town centre has been without a cinema - a firm family favourite - for over 30 years. With Arc Cinemas signed up, construction was scheduled to begin in autumn 2021.

And with funding confirmed, further family friendly projects on the table include a new central library, further green space (like Snail Yard, cgi above), a fan zone at the Guest & Chrimes site next to the stadium, and the Grimm & Co redevelopment.

It will be a big achievement to get more families back in town given the failings of the local authority and police force, a negative image and perceptions, complaints over antisocial behaviour, a fall in footfall and the consistent returns from surveyed local school children who say that they don't feel safe in the town centre.

Cllr, Denise Lelliott, cabinet member for jobs and the local economy at Rotherham Council, said: "I think what people really want is the family and lifestyle offer. It’s somewhere where they can go and get that family experience. So, for example, working in partnership with Grimm & Co."

The literacy charity had begun a move to larger premises when the COVID pandemic hit. Proposals were approved to enable an expansion into the former Talbot Lane Methodist Church and Grimm & Co now plans to start on a transformed story destination, initiating works to create a new and improved Grimm & Co, a magical emporium of stories for the centre of Rotherham, serving Yorkshire, Humber and beyond.

In addition to more space for magical workshops, the unique gift shop will be recreated within a new story destination for families, including an independent bookshop and café with magical and mortal menu options.

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Deborah Bullivant, founding director of Grimm & Co, said: "Rotherham was the perfect place to set up a charity like this. It’s a hidden gem in South Yorkshire. The children we work with talk to us all the time about how they re-imagine Rotherham. They talked about green spaces, the rivers. They talked about exciting new arts experiences that they can engage in.

"They talked about independent shops that wouldn’t just be shops for you to go and buy something but you would go in and would really engage in those shops and with the people around the town.

"And everybody’s talking about this now, the retail experience. It’s much more than just going into a shop, getting what you need and going home. It’s more about feeling like you’ve gone out, you’ve enjoyed yourself, you’ve done something that you might not have done before and then you take that experience home in your head.

"It’s about being playful with space and it’s about enjoying being in the outdoors, not closed in, and going from shop to shop, from space to space, having a coffee and then going into an experience like the cinema, an art experience, a gallery. That’s what Rotherham’s new model is looking like. It’s an experiential town centre and lots of cultures coming together learning about each other."

Rotherham is planning to brand itself as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025. The move is part of a new cultural strategy with an action that is described as highlighting Rotherham as "a place people want to visit, where everyone can enjoy Rotherham through the eyes, ears and actions of children and young people."

With high profile events like Rotherham United's AESSEAL New York Stadium hosting four games at the UEFA Women's Euros in 2022, Cllr. Lelliott is looking forward to more people experiencing the borough's "wonderful warm community."

Lelliott added: "I think Rotherham town centre in years to come should be feeling like you are coming home. That you come to a place that is full of warmth, welcoming, happy families and really, really good community feel for it."

Grimm & Co website
Rotherham town centre website

Images: RMBC / Grimm & Co

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