Grant funding for young entrepreneurs
Published
Monday 7 April, 2025
Updated
Tuesday 8 April, 2025
Two arts and culture community projects, based in Masters House in Sheerness, have received funding from the council’s Town Action Grant.
Launch It (Kent), the charity based in the council’s refurbished building, has received £9,905 to fund the Sheppey Art Syndicate infrastructure growth project.
The charity works with young entrepreneurs to help fulfil their potential by providing them the space, mentoring and training needed to start a business.
Launch It (Kent), working with Creative Estuary, are using the funding to hire a project manager local to the Island for a local art community group, Sheppey Art Syndicate run by young entrepreneur Bernard Redman.
They will provide creative workshops, training events and art programmes.
The first big art project was a competition to submit a design, that will be made into a ceramic mosaic.
This will be publicly displayed in a prominent place on the Island and unveiled by Kate Malone MBE.
The winning design, created by Toby Wells, features a ram overlooking the Kings Ferry bridge and Sheppey Crossing with colourful flowers surrounding it.
Island 2 Island, celebrating West Indies and Isle of Sheppey project also received £2,750 to build and support a united Afro-Caribbean community on the Isle of Sheppey through regular events and workshops.
The Island 2 Island Afro-Caribbean Community Group provide a safe, inclusive space where members of these communities can connect, celebrate diversity, exchange food, music and culture, all while working towards a more harmonious society.
They will be offered free sessions of relaxation and essential oils by the young entrepreneur Jodine Jean Jacques, working out of Masters House with the support of Launch It (Kent).
The Town Action Grant (TAG) aims to promote and enhance local arts, culture, heritage and creative events, and activities in and around town centres.
Bernard Redman, founder of Sheppey Art Syndicate, said:
“We have the hope that the Sheppey Art syndicate can bring the community together and brighten up our Island with wonderful artworks.
“We have a mural in the works where we held a competition for the design in March, the winning design will be turned into a clay mural that will be displayed in Sheppey.
“We are working on creative workshops to be held in the near future, in collaboration with Sheppey college, Masters house and the light cinema.
“I would like to thank Denise Knights from Launch it, for helping with getting funding for these projects and her continued support in the beautification of Sheppey.”
Denise Knights, Enterprise Manager of Launch It (Kent), said:
“This funding gives Launch It (Kent) the opportunity to Work with our young founders of the Sheppey Art Syndicate.
“We will be running a ceramic workshop with members of the community to make a 1.2m x 2m mural.
“Display art in the High St, hold exhibitions, and bring the festival of East Kent artists open houses, back to the Island in October.
“This will include art made by local professional artists, students and prisoners.
“Bringing footfall to the Island and improve the local economy as they sell their artwork and stop for coffee.”
Jodine Jean Jacques, founder of Island 2 Island, said:
"Since being on the launch IT Kent programme, I have received so much support and to now have funding too, this allows me to share my expertise and teach others through free well-being sessions with the local community about how to create a healthy work life balance using tailored holistic approaches.
“Being of Jamaican heritage I embrace the Island 2 Island project as it will bring both communities together to share their history, heritage, and fun stories.
“I'm so grateful to Denise, our Enterprise Manager as she has been so supportive since I started the programme.
“Her expertise and knowledge is invaluable, she has taught and shown me that anything is possible when you believe in yourself especially when you're supported by like-minded individuals."
