Tramlines gets a lot of plaudits, both in this city and across the nation, for the musical talent it always brings to the Steel City. Be that the huge names that play blockbuster headline slots, or the support it offers new upcoming bands looking for that big break as part of it's Apply To Play Scheme, the festival has rightly earned it's reputation as premier inner city music festival.
However, those more familiar with the efforts of Tramlines will know that it is so much more than that. Last year saw the introduction of Little Hillsborough to Hillsborough Park, a chance for local businesses to set up stalls to show their unique talent and wares to tens of thousands of festivalgoers across the weekend. Vendors last year included Luke Horton Art, Henderson's Relish and Annie Jude's to name a few.
We are delighted to see that Tramlines is bringing back this initiative for the 2024 festival as well. Luke Horton said, ‘trading at the festival is an exceptional opportunity to boost revenue’, which, ‘enabled us to progress and offer improved service heading into Christmas’. Annie Jude, has said she has, ‘loved having Tramlines in Hillsborough Park, it creates a buzz about the area’, and thanked Tramlines for ‘offering us a free space inside Little Hillsborough’ and for, ‘sharing my business on socials and on the screens during the festival.’ Interested businesses for Little Hillsborough must submit their applications via the Tramlines website by 26th April, with outcomes announced by 17th May.
Pairing aptly with this announcement, it was also unveiled that applications for grants to The Tramlines Trust have also opened for 2024. The Tramlines Trust gives grants to organisations and people who support the arts, local community and the environment.
Since moving to Hillsborough Park in 2018, a whopping £213k has been raised for many charities and causes including Weston Park Cancer Care, Cavendish Cancer Care, The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation and Sheffield Hospitals Charity. In 2023, The Tramlines Trust raised £57,600. A notable £27,800 of these funds were allocated across 27 deserving local organisations, marking a significant impact on Sheffield's grassroots projects. Noteworthy applicants included funding the Hillsborough Christmas Lights with a grant of £5,000. Additional recipients ranged from the Hillsborough Hornets Disability FC, requiring a larger pitch for their growing team, to Adira. This mental health charity utilised the funds to brighten the holiday season for disadvantaged children across Sheffield.
Reflecting on the trust’s achievements, Timm Cleasby, Operations Director, stated, "I know first-hand that there are hundreds of local people with ideas that have the power to change their communities for the better. We’re very pleased that Tramlines can help in any way to realise these dreams and create meaningful impact in people’s lives”. With the application window for the 2024 grants now open, the Tramlines Trust is inviting a new cohort of grassroots organisations to seek funding. Full details on the type of projects supported and the application process can also be found on the Tramlines website.
In addition to the Tramlines Trust and other charitable projects, the economic impact of the festival was estimated at £3.8million annually in data published last September. Tramlines continues to seek to engage and support the local community in a multitude of ways. The residents ticket service has given away an ever-increasing number of free tickets to local people, which included over 1,600 weekend passes in 2023. Other local highlights include work with Hillsborough Junior School which has raised funds for the school. Children in the school have made a ‘class tea towel’ style pictures of Tramlines acts which are made into actual tea towels and sold at the festival as a fundraising activity.
To stay up to date with all of the announcements and schemes ran by the festival, ensure you follow them on social media. It is wonderful to something that provides such a boost to the city so eager to give back to those that make it possible, or to those that need it most and Tramlines continues to do this in as many ways as it can.
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