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On Sunday July 9, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin visited Anglesey to meet Amlwch Showstoppers, an amateur drama group working to bring young talent in the town together in a fun and friendly environment. Amlwch Showstoppers were one of the recent winners of funding from the Commissioner’s Your Community, Your Choice funding initiative.
Your Community, Your Choice is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2023 and, over the past ten years, a total of over £500,000 has been awarded to more than 150 projects working to reduce crime in their areas and to support the priorities in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan. The Your Community, Your Choice fund supports grass-roots projects and is supported by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and North Wales Police. The funding for Your Community, Your Choice comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest from the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Amlwch Showstoppers is a voluntary group with strong values of respect and dignity for all members, and they teach the young members of the group to share these ideals in the wider community. The group also promotes resilience and the strengthening of community involvement and the encourage residents in the town to come along and support the young performers and their productions. The group hold two public shows a year and the Commissioner saw their latest production at the Amlwch War Memorial Hall during his visit to the town.
During his visit, the PCC also heard how funding given to the group will be used to purchase their own sound equipment and microphones, helping to modernise their equipment and give the group members better facilities to rehearse. The Commissioner heard how the buying of the new equipment will help the younger group members with their confidence in performing.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: "As North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, I am thrilled to have provided funding to Amlwch Showstoppers.
“I watched their engaging performance and I could see first-hand the dedication and talent of the young people in the group. I’m pleased to learn that the funding will be used to improve their sound equipment, which will be used to further develop the group’s aims and objectives.
“Amlwch Showstoppers’ mission aligns within the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan in supporting communities by giving young people a positive platform to express themselves. The group also told me they pride themselves on providing vulnerable people with an opportunity to experience the arts and performance. It is this kind of community spirit and inclusivity that makes North Wales thrive and I’m pleased we have been able to fund the group’s future endeavours.”
Eirlys Walker, Amlwch Showstoppers Adult Safeguarding Officer and Fundraiser stated: “Amlwch Showstoppers are grateful beyond words to be the recipient of one of this year’s Your Community Your Choice awards.
“We are a small, voluntarily run community drama group, so this money will have a big impact on our group. The fund will be used to upgrade our sound system ensuring that the voices of each and every member of our cast can be heard by the audience and that we can continue to entertain the members of our local community with our wonderful shows. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
PACT Chairman Ashley Rogers said: “Supporting groups such as Amlwch Showstoppers through the Your Community, Your Choice fund helps to make real and substantial change in our communities across North Wales. The positivity generated through the work of voluntary groups can be felt both by those taking part and giving their time, but also in the wider communities in which they operate.”
North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Allsop stated: “Investing in our communities is a key part of effective policing. By providing support for Amlwch Showstoppers through the Your Community, Your Choice initiative, we have played a part in promoting community spirit and the group’s pivotal work for the young people of Anglesey.”