Queen’s award for our town theatre
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VOLUNTEERS who run the town’s theatre have been handed the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The Concordia Theatre will soon be celebrating 50 years of shows, after it was converted from a derelict knitting factory into a 400-seat venue, run entirely by volunteers.
Judy Peatfield, publicity officer and trustee at the Hinckley Concordia Association, said: “We are immensely proud and honoured to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. “This pays tribute to the hard work and commitment of all our volunteers who have given their skills, talents and time freely over every area of the complex. “Their work over the past half century has been invaluable in providing a thriving voluntary-run community theatre and local community hub.
“Without them we simply would not be able to do what we do.
“On behalf of everyone who enjoys a visit to Concordia, we would like to thank and congratulate each and every one of our volunteers, past and present.”
Representatives of The Hinckley Concordia Association will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Michael Kapur, later this summer.
Two volunteers from The Hinckley Concordia Association will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
The award has been given to 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups this year.
The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to grow communities.
The award was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Recipients are announced each year on June 2, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year include volunteer groups from across the UK.