EDDISBURY MP Edward Timpson has welcomed more than £100,000 in government funding to help kick start the culture economy.

Eddisbury will receive £126,500 to support iconic cultural and heritage organisations and independent cinemas as they reopen and recover from coronavirus.

It is part of the £400 million in grants and loans being delivered to over 2,700 organisations across England, to help cultural and heritage organisations reopen and thrive in the better times ahead.

This brings the government's total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural and heritage organisations and sites.

Nearly all of the original £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund has now been allocated, and the Chancellor announced a further £300 million boost for the Fund at last month’s Budget, taking direct government investment in the sector since the start of the pandemic to almost £2 billion.

Commenting, Edward Timpson CBE, MP for Eddisbury, said: "The past year has had a devastating impact on cultural and heritage organisations across Cheshire, so it is fantastic news that £126,500 is being provided to support these most valued organisations in Eddisbury.

"I’m really excited that as we set out on our cautious roadmap to reopening this sector, we’ll soon be able to enjoy these extraordinary institutions once again, and I’m delighted that the support is being put in place to help them thrive in the future."

The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Culture Secretary, said: "Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.

"Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors—helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."