GRIMM & CO - CHANGING LIVES ONE STORY AT A TIME.

Published 8 August 2024 at 8:51am

A Rotherham charity has completed work on a new headquarters and cultural destination in Rotherham town centre, thanks to £617,000 in Gainshare funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Established in 2013, Rotherham-based Grimm & Co, is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young people by helping them improve their confidence and skills in writing and creativity. With SYMCA's support, Grimm & Co has relocated its internationally renowned headquarters to a stunning Grade II* listed church building in the heart of Rotherham. The move establishes a new cultural, educational, and visitor destination, enabling the Grimm & Co team to collaborate with young people and families from across the region and beyond.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said:
“The work that Grimm & Co does is inspirational. The impact it has on young people and families, using literacy and imagination to unlock the full potential of young people, is something truly special.

I'm really pleased we’ve been able to support the team to create this world class venue for children and young people in South Yorkshire.

“By growing its team and space and moving to the heart of Rotherham in an iconic Grade II listed landmark, Grimm & Co will not only be able to grow its offer for young people but they are also breathing new life into an iconic building in the town centre”.

The towering Gothic Grade II listed building required urgent attention to address extensive issues, such as repairing the roof, treating pervasive dry rot and dampness, and making once inaccessible spaces accessible.

Louise Treloar, Communications Coordinator at Grimm & Co, said:
“The Gainshare funding from SYMCA allowed us to improve the level of detail for our immersive spaces. We use these spaces as a 'holding area' for children's imaginations where they can truly feel free. The SYMCA funding allowed us to really take that to the next level, and the awe and wonder that we're constantly seeing now in the children mean they completely buy into our way of working and our child-empowered signature pedagogy.”

Through partnerships with artists and mentors, Grimm & Co unlocks creativity and foster a passion for writing and stories through the power of play. It engages children in the art of storytelling and exploration of new fantastical worlds. The building’s heritage, fairy tale-like aesthetics and landmark location will form the cornerstone of Grimm & Co’s Emporium of Stories, for children and the community. Louise Treloar said:

“We want to be one of the drivers for Rotherham becoming a story town where all stories are celebrated, no matter a person's history or experiences. Everyone has a story, and it's an interesting story because it's theirs; we want to give a platform to that and celebrate all voices of Rotherham. We aim to be a shining light for creativity in the town, and that shows in the way we have interwoven stories into every aspect of the visitor experience—whether that's sitting in the Feastery café and completing the activities there or exploring the Apothecary via a creative writing activity.”

This project will enable Grimm & Co to significantly increase visitor numbers and contribute to the redevelopment of Rotherham. Grimm & Co expects to attract over 120 school visits and 46,000 visitors to its new home, in addition to over 12,000 tourists, each year. The funding from SYMCA has also helped protect and create 22 jobs and 78 voluntary roles since May 2023.

To learn more about the world of Grimm & Co, please visit www.grimmandco.co.uk.