A West Cumbrian theatre has been awarded £1,000 thanks to overwhelming public support.
The Carnegie Theatre, on Finkle Street, is run by a charitable trust and is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It took part in specialist insurer Ecclesiastical’s 12 days of giving Christmas campaign and people were asked to vote for it to be among the 120 charities to receive £1,000.
Ecclesiastical said 1,890 Cumbrian residents nominated a cause close to their hearts, with 25 charitable causes in the area receiving votes.
The 120 winning charities across the UK were picked at random from those nominated.
Lee Martin-White, chairman of the Carnegie Theatre Trust, said: “The £1,000 will make a substantial difference to our charity.
“Maintenance of the listed building is a significant cost for us. This funding will enable us to improve the theatre and positively impact all those who use it.”
Mark Hews, group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “Owned by a charity, here at Ecclesiastical our core purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, so charitable giving is at the heart of our business.
“We know that £1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.
“We hope these donations can bring a positive end to a difficult year and a promising start to 2021.”