The Folk of Gloucester on Westgate Street has been awarded an unrestricted grant of £25,000 by the Postcode Local Trust, made possible by the players of the People's Postcode Lottery.

The grant will contribute to The Folk of Gloucester's core costs for 12 months, allowing the Community Heritage Centre to continue its wide range of arts and entertainment programmes.

In 2021, council funding for the former Gloucester Folk Museum at 99-103 Westgate Street ceased and the running was taken over by Gloucester Civic Trust: a charity working to preserve, protect and improve buildings of historic interest in Gloucester.

Today, The Folk of Gloucester (known as "The Folk") is a thriving community heritage centre. It aims to celebrate Gloucester's unique culture and history by showcasing the city's traditions, arts, crafts, music, theatre and people.

Louise Williams, Folk of Gloucester CEO, said: "We at The Folk are thrilled to have been recognised by The Postcode Local Trust as a worthy recipient of an unrestricted grant of £25,000. Grants like this are invaluable to a small charity like ours and will allow us to preserve this treasured historic building, keeping it free to access and in full use by the local community."

The Folk provides an inclusive and accessible space for creative expression and community meet-ups. In particular, it aims to engage groups that would otherwise be financially or socially marginalised, connecting them to the city's heritage through the arts.

One of the most successful events is the regular Soup Theatre series. These offer a bowl of home-cooked soup and a short play at lunchtime. As well showcasing local actors and playwrights, they are ideal for people who wouldn't normally have access to theatre. Other regular events with a dedicated following include folk music jamming sessions, free craft classes and a storytelling café.

Throughout the year, hundreds of people take part in free family events such as the Winter Wassail, Apple Day, Tudor Day and Gloucester Day.

Every spring, The Folk of Gloucester is home to the annual Ukrainian festival, celebrating Ukrainian music, dance, art and culture, allowing displaced Ukrainians from across the UK to come together and share their voices.