COUNCILLORS from Cotswold District Council (CDC) have bid successfully for £13,000 worth of funding to support the Phoenix Music Festival this weekend.

The festival, which will take place in the Abbey Grounds in Cirencester on August 27 and 28, will feature a wide variety of music, quality food and drink, and a memorable atmosphere.

Nine councillors representing wards around Cirencester bid for a grant through a Youth Activities fund made available to CDC by Gloucestershire County Council.

The strength of support for the festival resulted in a higher grant being allocated to the event.

Cllr Joe Harris, ward member for St Michael’s said: “Cirencester’s Phoenix Festival is a great example of community partnerships in action, inspiring and involving young people from across the Cotswolds.

"The festival supports local talent, engages businesses and makes live performance accessible to thousands of people of all ages.

"For many of the younger people involved in the staging of the event, it is also a chance to develop valuable social and organisational skills and general self-esteem, all of which will be of great benefit when they enter the world of work.”

Cllr Alison Coggins, CDC cabinet member for health and leisure, was pleased to endorse the bid for the funding: “The Phoenix Festival has quickly established itself as one of the highlights in the Cotswolds summer calendar of events, and it goes from strength to strength every year.

"We are always looking for worthy contenders when allocating funds for youth activities, and this event ticks all the boxes.

"I must add that we still have more funding on offer from our youth activities allocation, and I would encourage anyone with a suitable project in mind to contact their local CDC councillor to see if they will qualify for some financial support.”