Black Country Touring receives the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Young promoters

Black Country Touring have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The West Bromwich based organisation is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Frances Land Co-Artistic Director of Black Country Touring Said: “This is a real boost for us, particularly as we struggle to adapt to lockdown and social distancing, when the community venues we work with are closed. Our incredible team has included 251 volunteers and we are delighted that our work has been recognised. It’s a real tribute to the hard work and commitment our volunteers bring to the community.”

Black Country Touring’s volunteers range from 7 to 70+ and can be with the organisation from 6 months to many years.

The arts charity trains and supports volunteers to share the joys of having the arts as part of their lives with others in their community. The team enables local people, of all ages and backgrounds, to see high quality theatre, dance and film in their local area at an affordable price, often in areas of high deprivation with very few professional theatres and venues.

“Our volunteer programme supports and empowers people to be decision makers and create special, shared experiences that would not happen otherwise. When programming professional theatre, dance and cinema events in local venues for their community, the volunteers are supported by Black Country Touring at every step of promoting the event.”

Volunteers learn how to select professional touring theatre shows and build a programme of events tailored to the local venue they use. Venues include libraries, schools and community centres. 

Many people who attend would have no contact with the performing arts without Black Country Touring and its volunteers. Often these events are the only link with the outside world for people at risk of loneliness and isolation.

“The organisation could not operate at all without our enthusiastic volunteers. They are the people on the ground in the heart of the community who select, organise and promote the shows their audiences want to see. We support them to develop their skills, confidence and experience of organising events.

A key part of our work is about raising aspirations and improving people’s wellbeing through volunteering, by connecting them with other people in their local community and reducing the risk of isolation. Something that is very important during this time.”

Recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse.

They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including a community shop in Cornwall, an environmental group in Swansea, a group working with refugees and vulnerable people in Stirling and a thriving community arts centre in County Down.

Representatives of Black Country Touring will receive the award from Mr John Crabtree OBE, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands later this summer. Furthermore two volunteers from Black Country Touring will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award. 

Black Country Touring is hugely grateful to Arts Council England, Sandwell Council, Wolverhampton City Council and all the other funders and partners that make our work possible.

“I feel that without being able to attend Black Country touring events and performances our community would lose something very special, the amount of people who turn out for each performance speaks for itself. They have proven very popular indeed, I hope they will continue to do so for many years to come, they are a real asset to anyone who sees them.” Dan Letchford, member of Friends of Thimblemill Library

“I see first hand the positive impact BCT young promoters events have on the individual students, in developing their self esteem and bringing the whole school together, including their families and friends. It’s a valuable asset, which enables events to be held locally and at an affordable price.” Maggie Nock, Science Coordinator at Penn Hall School

“I have attended a number of their productions at Thimblemill Library in Smethwick in my Ward. In every production I am always amazed by the thoroughly professional standard of the artists and those involved in the production. No matter how complex the theme they succeed in engaging enthusiastically with the audience. In fact, one particular aspect of their productions that can be guaranteed is the really high level of audience engagement and participation in the production”. Councillor Bob Piper, Ward Councillor for Abbey Ward in Sandwell