A POPULAR community charity is looking for four people to join its board of trustees to help it achieve its plans for the future.

The company secretary role is also available.

The vacancies are for volunteers willing to help develop Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Arts, which runs the town’s Kirkgate Centre, Heritage Group and Youth Theatre, as well as the Arts Out West project that works in partnership with a large number of West Cumbrian village halls and community venues.

“This is our 25th anniversary year and we’ve chalked up many successes involving huge numbers of people, whether it’s been comedy shows, gigs, touring theatre companies or community highlights such as the Christmas lantern parades, local history exhibitions and the town’s annual panto,” said the charity’s chair, Marion Bowman.

“Despite the challenges we’re facing because of Covid-19, we’re still getting people into arts and cultural activities online through a new project called Arts Out Wide that runs until the end of November. We’ve re-opened the Kirkgate Centre for twice weekly cinema screenings and some of our regular community activities.

“It’ll be a long time before we can be as busy as we were before lockdown but we’re determined to ensure we’re still here in 25 years’ time and have just signed off on a new strategic plan for the next five years,” said Marion.

“Following our recent Annual General Meeting, we now have some vacancies on our board of trustees and for a company secretary. We’re looking for people who’re enthusiastic about community life, the arts and heritage.

"We’re keen to attract people with lots of different skills and knowledge – in local history, buildings, management, finance, health, education, IT, digital marketing, communications, law or business. We want people of all ages and backgrounds. People don’t have to have had board level experience before - we’ll support anyone who wants to take the first step to serve as a company director and charity trustee.

“It could be a useful career development opportunity, satisfying volunteer role or stimulating retirement activity and we’re a friendly team with some exciting ambitions.

“Welcoming four new people onto the current board of seven will really boost our plans for the future.”

To find out more and have an informal chat about the trustee and company secretary vacancies, email directors@thekirkgate.com.