Chester-based and Wrexham-based Grosvenor Insurance Services has donated £5,000 to ensure a local community inclusion initiative can be performed at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
The festival’s Inclusion Project has been running for ten years, helping promote unity and diversity throughout North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. A diverse mix of local disability and community groups whose marginalized members would not usually have the opportunity to perform at international events, will practice together over the coming months culminating in a unique performance on the main stage at the festival in July.
Theatretrain Regional Choir from Mold and Derwen on Tour, a performance group from Oswestry’s Derwen College that uses Makaton signs to help children who have no speech will be returning this year. New groups joining them will be Wrexham One Love Choir, whose members have experienced homelessness, addiction and mental health issues, Wrexham Singing Hands from Wrexham Deaf Club and Rhyl-based mental health ukulele group, Mind Tones.
The international festival recently reached out to the local business community to secure funding to ensure it can continue delivering the Inclusion Project. The kind donation from the Grosvenor Insurance Services will help fund the costs of the project ensuring a wide range of diverse talent from across Wales and Shropshire can perform at this year’s International Eisteddfod.
Sandra Humphreys, Wrexham Branch Chairman of Grosvenor Insurance Services said: “We were blown away by the incredibly talented groups and the inspiring work involved in the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s Inclusion Project last year, as they celebrated 10 years of the initiative.
“We’re very proud to support this great cause that unites local community groups, builds people’s confidence and helps them achieve amazing things.”
“Tapestry” has been announced as the project theme for 2019, an idea inspired by a quote from Maya Angelou – “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color”.
Music Director of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry, said: “Providing equal opportunities for all to contribute to world peace and unity is what the Llangollen Eisteddfod works tirelessly to promote.
“Thanks to the generous support of Grosvenor Insurance Services with their donation towards the cost of the Inclusion Project, it has been able to continue its life-changing work and enables people from all walks of life to perform on the Eisteddfod stage.”
This year, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will run from Monday 1st-Sunday 7th July with competitions and performances running every day and evening, including Jools Holland, Rolando Villazón and Gipsy Kings.
