Leaders of a touring scheme supporting a network of voluntary organisations in Atherstone and district have made a new plea for cash to keep "bringing the community together" through putting on value-for-money entertainment at non-mainstream venues.

Live & Local works with voluntary groups and professional artists to create new audiences for the performing arts.

The company claims to co-ordinate good quality performances in live theatre, storytelling, music, dance, family and children's shows and film screenings in local village halls, churches or schools.

Last year it delivered a number of shows at Owen Street Community Arts Centre in Atherstone and at Baddesley Ensor Village Hall.

But budgetary pressures in the last two years has stopped Warwickshire County Council making a financial contribution to a grant aid agreement which is still backed by North Warwickshire Borough Council along with local authorities in Rugby and Warwick.

Now councillors on North Warwickshire's Community and Environment Board have been asked to consider surpassing last year's funding of £2,000 for the Warwick-based scheme.

Live & Local points out its "value for money" in delivering 11 shows in Atherstone, Austrey, Baddesley Ensor, Coleshill, Fillongley and Hurley – helping over the year to sustain "vibrant and cohesive communities" by supporting five voluntary organisations to develop their skills and volunteer base; creating 35 volunteering instances; entertaining 671 people in their own community; achieving an average of 59 per cent capacity and assisting the local economy by attracting inward investment of more than £7,000 from Arts Council England and raising nearly £5,000 in earned income.

Therefore, for each pound invested by North Warwickshire Borough Council, an additional £7.11 was attracted from other sources which enables groups to retain £538 from the events that is reinvested in their local community, a report to tonight's Community and Environment Board reveals.

A volunteer promoter said: "The attendances have grown and grown. We now have our own stage which we bought through lottery funding as a direct result of Live & Local – this has spawned other events in the village hall."