Kings Award for Voluntary Service
We are delighted to announce that we are one of the seven Cumbrian organisations who have received The Kings Award for Voluntary Service this year.
“Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering. Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).
Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years.
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.”
You can see a full list of the organisations receiving this prestigious award here.
Our volunteers celebrating the news!
The Kirkgate Centre is an entertainment and cultural venue at the heart of the lively community of Cockermouth, Cumbria.
We celebrate our local talent and heritage, and bring top quality professional entertainment to our town and many other communities across the area to the west of the Lake District National Park.
Whether you enjoy films on a big screen, live music, theatre, exhibitions, shows for children and families or community events, Kirkgate has something for everyone. Our quirky character makes us a special venue for weddings, parties, festivals and conferences.
Our mission:
“Creative talent is valued, developed, and supported with opportunities for all to actively engage with and enjoy the arts, our local heritage and community life”
Our values:
Commitment – Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to delivering our mission.
Inclusion – We aim to make art, heritage, and culture accessible to all our communities.
Sustainability – We aim to ensure that the organisation is secure for future generations from both financial and environmental perspective.
Nurturing – We aim to provide an environment that encourages growth, development of skills confidence and enjoyment for all.
WHAT’S ON
Poets Out Loud
8th January 2025 8:30pm
Kirkgate Centre
Booking not required *Please note doors open for this event at 8.30pm* Poets Out Loud For writers, readers and listeners from Cumbria and beyond. All are welcome to a most informal evening of poetry at the Kirkgate Centre. It IS for listeners, not just writers. Lovers of poetry and the spoken word who would like to just sit and enjoy ...
Mara
11th January 2025 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
“Dominic Kelly conjures an entire world single-handed from an almost empty stage”. Lancaster Guardian 1868. Discharged from the army, Morten scrapes a living on the edge of the Swedish forest. Suddenly he begins to suffer nightmares and mysterious visits as he sleeps. He’s told he is plagued by a Mara – a possessed person who unwittingly visits him at night. ...
Heritage Talk: Women on the Home Front – The Work of the WVS during WWII
13th January 2025 6:00pm (Doors open at 5:30 pm)
Kirkgate Centre
When we think of women in the 2nd World War, we often think about the glamorous pictures of the Land Army or Wrens, we often don't think of those women that remained at home. This talk celebrates the often forgotten story of one group of women; the Women's Voluntary Service, and the many vital roles they played to support their ...
An introduction to live sound engineering
14th January 2025 4:00pm
Kirkgate Centre
This course runs over three weeks, and aims to provide participants with the skills and knowledge required to safely set up and operate sound equipment in a live event setting. The course will give participants: An overview of the sound equipment needed for a live event, from microphones to mixing desks. An understanding of technical terminology and language what it ...