A WEST Cumbrian cultural hub has received a funding boost of over £40,000 after the awarding of two major grants.

Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre has received over £43,000 funding from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The centre’s management has just been given confirmation that two separate grants have been awarded to help fund two discrete projects that it wishes to deliver.

Capital funding totalling £26,739 has been allocated from the Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund towards the fitting of an accessible toilet on the first floor of the Kirkgate building.

Kirkgate General Manager Emma Heys said: “The first floor of the building is where the auditorium is situated.

“This will allow anyone who is seeing a show in the auditorium who needs to use the accessible toilet to do so without descending in the lift to the ground floor and risk missing a large section of the show.”

In addition, a revenue grant of £16,486 has been awarded to the Kirkgate to complete a six-month community-led heritage project covering the history of brewing in Cockermouth, from cottage industry to Jennings Bros Ltd. and beyond.

Emma added: “It will involve the youth theatre, whose two groups will work towards a performance just before Christmas, a heritage exhibition, a series of illustrated lectures and some guided walks.

“We’re delighted and very grateful for both grants. It takes a great deal of hard work to ensure that the Kirkgate building and the programme we offer continue to adapt to the needs of our customers and reflect the heritage of our communities.”