Creating a case for support
CLIENT: THEATRE PORTO
Theatre Porto asked us to help them develop a new case for support to showcase their impressive work for, by, and with children and young people. We did just this, and then we helped them to raise significant funds from major funders including Garfield Weston Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Image with thanks to Theatre Porto
Theatre Porto creates original, imaginative theatre, ‘for, by and with’ children and young people, from their base in Ellesmere Port.
The context
Theatre Porto is a specialist theatre company and cultural hub in Ellesmere Port. As an Arts Council NPO, they create imaginative and award-winning work for, by, and with children and young people. The company is renowned and recognised for their work which is inclusive, experimental, and collaborative.
Transforming lives through arts, culture, and imagination is at the core of what they exist to do.
The challenge
Theatre Porto were at a significant moment of growth and change, with ambitious plans to develop a new cultural hub in Ellesmere Port. They had an impressive legacy story to tell, along with a need to communicate their bold vision for the future of the company - to transform lives through culture, and play a leading role in the regeneration of their home town, Ellesmere Port.
What we did
We worked with Theatre Porto to secure funding to support their ambitious growth plans, developing a robust case for support and raising funds from major charitable trusts including Garfield Weston Foundation, People’s Postcode Lottery, and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
We did:
Case for support research and narrative development
Funder research
Bid writing, securing £174,000 in trust funding in a few months
Securing funds to transform more young lives through creativity.
Supporting the redevelopment of a town to create a place people feel proud to live in.
The difference we made
Our fundraising success enabled the company to recruit key management roles to support the realisation of Theatre Porto’s growth strategy. In 2022, Theatre Porto opened the doors to a new theatre and transformed cultural centre following a £2.8M development of their home at Whitby Hall, Ellesmere Port.
“Sarah from Really Good Things was instrumental in our success with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, and other Trusts and Foundations. The case for support she put together has made a real difference to our long-term plans and has provided the company with a firm basis for future funding bids. I would not hesitate to recommend working with Really Good Things to future clients who need excellent development or fundraising support” Nina Hajiyianni CEO / Artistic Director, Theatre Porto
“Sarah from Really Good Things was instrumental in our success with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, and other Trusts and Foundations.”
THEATRE PORTO
Images with thanks to Theatre Porto
Really Good Things is a specialist consultancy for arts, heritage, place and culture organisations. From fundraising to communications and audience development, our clients include Culture Warrington, York Museums Trust, Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, Chester Zoo, Wonder Arts, Marlborough Productions, and the museums and galleries at the University of Liverpool. Talk to us about how we can amplify what you do.
