Wellington's independent cinema grateful for 'crucial' Covid cash boost
An independent Shropshire cinema is welcoming "crucial" Government funding of £3,662 to help it recover from the long lockdown months.
Wellington Orbit was one of 42 independent English cinemas to receive money from the Governments Culture Recovery Fund so that it can continue to offer cultural experiences.
Ray Hughes, board director at Wellington Orbit, said: “We are pleased to have been successful in our application for our safety grant from the Culture Recovery Fund.
"This crucial funding will help us to maintain our Covid safety measures in the cinema and cafe since we reopened in July. We would like to thank the British Film Institute and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for supporting independent cinemas like us during these difficult times.
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“The amount awarded matches to the penny the amount we claimed and covers not only amounts already spent but forecast expenditure up to March 31, 2021. It also covers safeguarding expenditure such as protective screens and face masks.
"Customer security has always been our number one priority in reopening and this award gives extra reassurance to customers that we will do the maximum possible to safeguard them in accordance with government guidance.
“I would particularly like to thank one of our many fantastic volunteers, Joerg Niehoegen, who put in long hours to research all the voluminous guidance to help us draw up our Covid Risk Assessment which formed the basis of the claim.”
Wellington Orbit reopened in July after lockdown, and last week welcomed its 20,000th customer since it first opened in central Wellington last year.
