The SIP team has supported the setting up and running of the Rural Art Hub Community Interest Company since February 2022. They have been central in advising me about compliance, fundraising and in registering for social prescribing and signposting to a number of other teams who can support with other needs of the organisation and myself as a director such as accounting, safeguarding and marketing. 

 I have never been a director of a business before: never done fundraising before as an organisation and have had limited experience of accounts and marketing. The SIP team, in particular, Allison Richardson and Carole Moreton, have been vital to my gaining this experience as well as understanding how I can organise my time effectively. Beyond this it has been their enthusiasm that has kept me going, boosting my confidence and enabling me to secure funding from both the National Lottery Community Fund as well as Arts Council England to cover some of our running costs for the year.  

I have also had a brilliant contact with Sara Lanyon and Bella Doolan about social prescribing and they are supporting me through the process of registering. Carole, Allison and Sara have all visited the site which has been vital. They have got to see the practical challenges that we face in heating our space over the winter as well as being able to see the enormous, exciting potential that we can offer to the local communities through our programme of creative activities for all ages. They are in regular contact with opportunities and to read through funding applications as well as offer references if needed. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I could not have set up my organisation without their support. I would certainly not have been able to secure funding or have gained the skills needed for the day to day running of the organisation. 

Joseph Schneider 

Rural Art Hub 

Welshampton 

Ellesmere