Good news for Salford Victoria Theatre Trust

Positive progress has been made by the community group we are supporting to return Theatre at Risk Salford Victoria to community use.

Theatres Trust has been supporting Salford Victoria Theatre Trust (SVTT) for several years with its ambition to take over the building and restore it for the local community.

The group received two pieces of good news this week that will help them in this mission:

• Successful application for a project viability grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund’s (AHF) new Heritage Revival Fund programme
• Notification from the Charity Commission that SVTT’s application for charity status has been approved.

Theatres Trust has critical support to SVTT around governance and business planning, through our Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities programme, that has enabled it to prepare a credible application to the AHF. We also assisted the organisation with its application.

The grant, worth up to £15,000, will allow Salford Victoria Theatre Trust to assess the building’s condition, explore potential future uses, and establish whether the intended plans are appropriate and sustainable.

We also advised SVTT on its legal status, recommending that becoming a registered charity would support future fundraising applications.

While there is still a long way to go, this gives SVTT a firmer foundation for its plans. We will continue to work with SVTT and Salford City Council to support plans to revive this wonderful building.

Read more about why we think Salford Victoria is worth saving.