Music festival receives major cash injection

Cllr. Robert Simpson, Cllr. Maureen Compton, Cllr. Jack Barber and Cllr. Mike Poulter each contributed £1,000 from their Local Members Initiative Scheme (LMIS) grant to help to build on the massive success that the festival has seen in previous years.

The LMIS is a Staffordshire County Council initiative to give local councillors the opportunity to spend up to £10,000 to support projects that contribute to local community spirit and services. 

Since the LMIS scheme started in October 2001, over £4,000,000 has been spent by the county's 62 councillors on nearly 3,500 worthy local causes.

Cllr Robert Simpson, county councillor for Stafford North and Deputy Leader of the council, is passionate about the festival and its contribution to the community.

"The festival is always hugely successful and brings the community together in a celebration of music, poetry and performance which is really unique.

2008 will be the festival's seventh year, but it still remains loyal to its original aim of boosting community spirit with an extravaganza of entertainment for the whole family.

I'm delighted to be able to support the festival which really is one of the local highlights of the year. "

Cllr Maureen Compton is county councillor for Stafford Central and is Staffordshire's Cabinet Support Member for Culture and Heritage. She is always one of the founder members of the festival.

"The festival draws people from across the county and the indeed the region to experience the atmosphere and community spirit of Stafford, which is wonderful. I'm delighted to support this event which has something for every member of the community."

Ralph Cooke, Chairperson of the Stafford Music Festival Society, said:

"The Festival is very grateful for the councillors' funding from the Local Members Initiative Scheme, operated by the county council. The event gives so much pleasure to so many people, and will help to really keep music alive!

I hope that Stafford takes this opportunity to come and see local, national and international performers.  There are many free concerts and there are plans for performances from local schools and workshops to encourage people to experience different types of music."

This year's festival runs from Saturday 10 May to Saturday 24 May.  Information on the festival is available at the Society's Internet pages at www.staffordmusicfestival.org.uk

Read more about the Local Member Initiative Scheme.