[C]umbria’s Police and Crime Commission Peter McCall, recently awarded Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society (GADS) Youth Theatre £2,000 funding from the Property Fund.
The Police and Crime Commissioner has power to distribute funds accumulated in the Property Fund as a result of the disposal of property coming into the possession of the police by the Police (Property) Act 1897 and The Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973.
Speaking about this, Peter McCall said: “I was pleased to be able to award GADS some money from the Property Fund, as I am a great believer in empowering our local communities to proactively help keep Cumbria a safe county. By providing them with the funding, they are giving the youngsters the opportunity to pursue positive, social activities, which in turn will mean they are less likely to get caught up in crime or anti-social behaviour. I look forward to coming along to one of their productions later in the year.”
Cumbria Constabulary PCSO Dawn Lowerson said: “I am delighted that the Gosforth Youth Amateur Dramatics Society has received this funding. This is a great little club that keeps a lot of the young members busy, particularly in the holidays.”
Karen Polmear, Chair of the GADS Executive Committee said: “GADS performs one or two serious or comedy plays each year, plus the annual pantomime. We are also great believers in supporting our younger members, and to this end we run a weekly Youth Theatre Group and a week long summer workshop. Youngsters also make up over 50% of our pantomime cast.
“The stage lights are such a vital part of any theatre group or amateur dramatic society and are often taken for granted. As well as the lights themselves, the control and dimming equipment is a vital part of the set-up although it is rarely seen by GADS members, never mind the general public. Our control gear is at least 20 years old and we have experienced several failures recently as it reaches the end of its useful life.
“So it’s time to think about replacement. To do this we need to raise about £4,800 and this very generous grant from the Police Property Fund will go a long way towards our target. The many GADS members and especially the hundreds of people who make up our audiences each year will be very grateful indeed. The show must go on, as we say.”
For more information about GADS visit the website www.gads.org.uk, Facebook gads1948, Twitter @gadsgosforth or email info@gads.org.uk.
Applications to the Property Fund will be considered quarterly, and the next closing date is 31 May 2017.
For further information, the guidance notes can be accessed on our website: https://cumbria-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/funding/property-fund/
