Following nomination and letters of support, we were delighted to be formally informed in November 2023, of His Majesty the King’s approval that volunteers of Carmarthen and District Youth Opera should receive “The King’s Award for Voluntary Service”. It is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the U.K. and is equivalent to an MBE. The award, one of only six in Wales and of 262 throughout the UK, was presented in November 2023.
KAVS aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to the benefit of their communities. Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, and following his accession, His Majesty the King emphasised his desire to continue the award.
The Award is a fitting and well-deserved accolade for all CDYO volunteers past and present, who have been and continue to be such an important cornerstone of the success of the company, and without whom we, as an organisation, would simply not exist.
Our volunteer strength is one big team, some you will see welcoming you in the Lyric foyer and in hospitality. Most, however, work “behind the scenes” and include the production team, those involved with lighting , sound, wardrobe, hair, make up, staging, security, publicity, licensed chaperones and management. All these Volunteers (on average numbering around 75) give their time freely, and many have been volunteers since the early years of the company.
For a number of people, being a CDYO volunteer is a year-round commitment, but for most, it spans from September to February (from auditions to show week) and for others it involves commitment in the theatre for the shows. Our volunteers, representing both past and present, were delighted to receive the King’s Award for Voluntary Service from Miss Sara Edwards, His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, during our 2024 show week production of “Our House “.
As a token of our huge thanks and appreciation, we are offering free of charge a KAVS lapel badge to any current or past CDYO volunteers.
If you are either and would like a badge
Get in touch here
or phone Ruth Lewis on 07971353941 or Wyn Davies on 07968379124.
We will be pleased to organise collection of the badges but regret that we are unable to accept postal delivery requests.