For the initiative’s final round, support will be geared directly to post-lockdown recovery and tackling issues raised by social distancing and the wider Covid-19 pandemic.

Initially launched in May 2019, Prosper North supports cultural heritage organisations in the region to boost income, improve business planning, strengthen community impact and increase preparedness to access social investment from Key Fund’s Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund.

The programme has already helped 55 cultural heritage organisations through a series of bespoke 1:1 support sessions and workshops, along with webinars delivered by specialist business advisors and partners from Bates Wells, Key Fund and Social Investment Business.

Prosper North alumni to have benefited from this work include include the People’s History Museum, Sunderland Maritime Heritage and Liverpool’s Homotopia.

“In these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we provide free advice, guidance and practical skills to people who run the incredible cultural heritage organisations in the Prosper North programme,” notes Sarah Thirtle, director of business support programmes at Creative United.

“We’re committed to doing all we can to equip them with the strategies and plans to bring their cherished organisations – whether they be venues with full-time teams or volunteer-led heritage sites – through the Covid-19 lock down, and towards a prosperous and impactful future.”


More information on how to apply for a place in the final Prosper North cohort can be found here.

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