A STREET band will feature in this year’s Cowley Road Carnival for the first time thanks to two grants.

The High Sheriff's Community Integration Award – where community projects are rewarded by Oxford’s High Sheriff Tony Stratton – has given £3,000 to organisers Cowley Road Works, and £300 has been awarded by the Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund.

Primary school age children and their families are now being sought to join the band and play music from around the world for the event on Sunday, July 5.

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Funding will be used to pay for materials and artists to lead workshops, which are expected to begin later this month for the Rhythm Craft project.

Children will dress in colourful costumes, with instruments made from recycled material by pupils from three city primary schools, to be named soon.

Cowley Road Works executive director Danielle Battigelli said: “Carnival is all about bringing all the different parts of Oxford together.

“Through the children we want their families to get involved.

“It’s been something we have been wanting to do so we are very glad that this funding enables us to do it, and it’s a new element to the procession.”

The East Oxford mother-of-two added: “We wanted to have more music in the procession.

“We already have some great bands in Oxford but we are also looking to add more music in the procession and involve different schools in different ways.”

Residents voted online for the Galaxy cash and it is hoped the group will play at other community events.

Galaxy Hot Chocolate spokeswoman Michelle Frost said: “We know that across the UK and Ireland smaller charities and groups struggle to make ends meet despite the efforts of a huge number of warm-hearted volunteers.

“The Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund aims to give them a helping hand and hopefully inspire more people to get involved with local community groups.”

More than 45,000 visitors attended last year’s free event, making it the biggest to date, and 765 took part in the carnival procession.

Preparations for the 2015 festivities began last September and more than £30,000 has been raised towards the £120,000 needed.

Alternative rock bands Balloon Ascents and Osprey held a collection during their November O2 Academy gig, and a December carol event was also held.

Cowley Road Works is currently organising a fundraising Ceilidh music event on February 6, which will support the Rhythm Craft project.

Ashton Mills, co-director of arts project Re-Resonate, will be leading the Rhythm Craft workshops.

He said: “We are looking forward to creating a group with schools and families in the community and are going to make instruments out of scrap for the Carnival procession.”

Call 07941 482376 or email info@cowleyroadworks.org

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