Todmorden illustrator raises money for Community Resilience Fund

Artist Louise Lockhart has designed two pieces of art to raise money for the community groups providing front line services.
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In response to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, Voluntary Action Calderdale (VAC) approached Todmorden based illustrator Louise Lockhart, a.k.a. The Printed Peanut, to help raise vital funds for the Community Foundation for Calderdale's Community Resilience Fund.

Louise, who has nearly 200,000 followers on social media, designed two uplifting pieces inspired by the morale boosting posters of World War II.

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A limited edition of 100 copies of the prints and 50 rainbow prints, each signed and numbered by Louise, sold out within 3 hours of going online raising over £1,300 for the fund.

Artist Louise Lockhart.Artist Louise Lockhart.
Artist Louise Lockhart.

Louise said: “My friend Emma Worsley works for VAC. I was already thinking of ways to help during the current pandemic so when she got in touch about creating some artwork I was completely on board.

“I wanted to create some positive prints to hang in your home that celebrate the small things in life, inspired by the morale boosting posters of World War II. I created the artwork by cutting out the shapes from an A4 piece of paper, which was then replicated as a risograph print.

"Risograph printing is a bit like a cross between screen printing and photocopying. Each print is unique and printed with vegetable based inks onto recycled card."

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Emma Worsley, Lousie's friend and Communications Officer at VAC said:“The Voluntary and Community Sector in Calderdale has been hit hard by coronavirus with over 70 organisations reporting interruptions to their service delivery and many more having to halt much needed services during the pandemic.

"However, the sector is incredibly resilient and so many organisations have adapted the way they work in response to coronavirus.

"VAC wanted to look at a positive, creative way to support the hard work and dedication of local organisations and we are over the moon to have the talent and kindness of Louise to help us achieve that. All the money raised is going to the Calderdale Community Resilience Fund that has been set up by our partner organisation, Community Foundation for Calderdale.”

Organisations providing front line support can apply for grants of up £3,000 from the Community Resilience Fund. The fund has received over £110,000 through a series of donations from local people and businesses and government grants.

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So far, over 15 groups have been given grants, including: Archway Project, Community Transport for Calderdale, Focus4Hope, Disability Partnership Calderdale, Gathering Place at Ebeneezer Church, Noah’s Arc, Calderdale SmartMove, and Todmorden Food Drop In.

Steve Duncan, CEO of the CFFC, said: “We want to say thank you for all the generous donations that have been made to the Community Resilience Fund so far.

“However, we need more to be able to carry on supporting the front line organisations in the volunteer sector in the future.

“A lot of the groups we work with survive from grant to grant.

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“They provide an invaluable service and they are relying on the community to help them find the money during this difficult time.”

To purchase one of Louise’s prints, visit www.theprintedpeanut.co.uk/new/.

Are you doing something to help our NHS during these difficult times? Send your stories and photos to [email protected].

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