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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.”

https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk/

You can see a full list of the organisations receiving this prestigious award here.

Our volunteers celebrating the news!

 Celebrating Kings Award at Kirkgate Arts Cockermouth

Kirkgate Arts and Heritage Cockermouth Venue for Theatre Films Music 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

Monthly Market Seller Registration

26th April 2025 9:00am

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Join In

For £10 you have access to one of ten tables for the morning of our monthly indoor market, where you can sell your unwanted items, home produced crafts, books, music, almost anything! We will send you a link to our seller guidelines when you book, but please click the link to check that your items are suitable before booking a ...

Kirkgate Monthly Market

26th April 2025 10:00am

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Special Event

We're opening our downstairs space for a monthly sale! Whether it'soriginal creations from local makers and crafters,unwanted household items, CD's, books, DVD's, toys and games you're sure to find some treasure among our sellers offerings. For the spring and summer we are also offering plants for sale, plus tasty treats to enjoy with a cuppa while you browse! If you ...

The Hairy Girl

26th April 2025 8:00pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Category: Theatre

The Hairy Girl by Kersti Ståbi Directed by Abbi Patrix Once upon a time there was a king and a queen who lived in a castle full of gold, diamonds and good food, but they didn't have any children… This is the very ordinary beginning to one of the wildest of Scandinavian fairy tales! The Hairy Girl thunders through the ...

Anne-Marie Sanderson @ St Bees Village Hall

27th April 2025 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00 pm)

St Bees Village Hall

Category: Arts Out West

Anne-Marie Sanderson’s new album, ‘Old Light’ (released 5th Sep 2024) brings together songs written over the course of a decade, drawing on themes of nature, personal growth, and ancestral wisdom. Anne-Marie’s songwriting is both thought-provoking and uplifting, combining deft guitar work with imaginative melodies, and her delivery combines a heartfelt tenderness with a sense of purpose. The songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and ...
Testimonials

I remember fondly our time at the Kirkgate a couple of years ago, the warm and intimate atmosphere and the friendly welcome.

Kiki Dee

 The Kirkgate is my ideal venue. Intimate and warm, staffed by passionate folks who really care about The Arts and about their local community. It has a beating heart, even more so due to the eager enthusiastic volunteers who help run it.

Snake Davis

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Cockermouth and had a great evening at the Kirkgate, the venue and staff were fantastic. We look forward to returning sometime in the future.

Kevin Morris & Dr Feelgood