An extra skip and jump has been put into the performances of morris men in Brent Knoll, near Burnham-On-Sea, with the news that British Telecom is to give the group a grant worth several hundred pounds.
Burnham-On-Sea.com reported last month that the group had sent out leaflets to 15,000 homes across Somerset in an effort to raise the profile of their colourful British tradition and recruit more people.
This week, the group heard it had been successful in gaining a grant of £435 towards the cost of the recruitment campaign. The BT Community Champions award scheme came forward following an application for funding by Neil Gratton, a former Squire of the Chalice Morris Men and also a BT employee.
BT Community Champions allocates funding to groups who demonstrate how the money would benefit their local community and the Chalice Morris Men impressed judges with how they would use their grant.
Neil Gratton told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are delighted that BT has recognised the importance of traditional Morris Dancing. Support and funding for the tradition has been difficult to achieve, but following our efforts to raise the profile of Morris Dancing, we are beginning to see signs that funding organisations value its contribution to our community life. This money will contribute to recruiting and training new dancers, so that Morris Dancing can continue as a living tradition.”
Even though the campaign has only just got underway, they have already had several new dancers join the side, and have passed on enquires from other parts of the country.
