Community and Cultural Scene

One of the outstanding characteristics of Congleton is its strong voluntary sector, which plays a vibrant role in every aspect of the cultural, social and sporting life of the town. A huge number of organisations and initiatives are run by volunteers, making Congleton a very lively community.

 

The town is proud to have its own theatre, the Daneside Theatre, which can be found in Park Road. The Theatre was opened in 1984, is run by a charitable trust and is the home of the Congleton Players Amateur Theatre Club, Centre Stage, Congleton Musical Theatre, Trinity Amateur Operatic Theatre, Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre and Congleton Pantomime. These groups, along with a number of local dance troupes and visiting professional companies ensure that local people can enjoy first class performances in the town, without travelling to Stoke, Manchester or Buxton.

 

Congleton does not have a cinema, but Daneside Theatre holds film evenings. Tickets for most shows at Daneside are available from Congleton’s Tourist Information Centre in the High Street.

Congleton’s music scene is thriving, and ranges from talented local indie and rock bands to the long established Congleton Choral Society, and from Clonter Opera to Karaoke nights. The Choral Society offers a varied range of choral music, with a number of concerts held during the year.

More on Congleton Choral Society

 

Congleton Youth Orchestra encourages young musicians from nine up to twenty five years old. It has a junior string section and trains younger players for the main orchestra. It features one concert a term, plus another during the festive period. The orchestra is always pleased to hear from young musicians and is able to loan instruments free of charge for a trial period.

 

Brass bands are still strong in the area and two local bands, the Silk Band and the Rode Hall Silver Band often play at the theatre and at local events.

 

Congleton is home to many artists, photographers, painters, sculpturers and writers, known collectively as the Victoria Mill Artists (VMA). This group puts on many exhibitions, talks and workshops based out of the Victoria Mill in Foundry Bank.

 

The green-flagged, magnificent Victorian Congleton Park is a jewel in Congleton’s Crown. Created in 1871, the Park was recently restored thanks to a £1.5 million Heritage Lottery Grant and now boasts a fantastic ornamental gardens, town wood, new lighting and bandstand, bowling park, childrens play park and a refurbished Pavilion Bar and Grill. Many events are held at the Park throughout the year, ranging from brass band to outdoor theatre, and from Rotary Club of Congleton’s wonderful Bonfire Night to the BEAR team’s Teddy Bear Picnics. Friends of Congleton Park has over 80 members and ensures that the Park remains a great place. More Friends are always welcome, contact Tony Willis on 01260 274834.

Care of young people is a strong strand in community life. VISYON is a charitable trust formed to provide a confidential counselling service for young people between the ages of eleven and twenty five. Complementing VISYON is the Youth Information Shop project which gives practical support and runs a successful youth cafe at their premises in the High Street. Scouting and Guiding flourishes in Congleton with numerous units throughout the town engaged in offering challenging opportunities and skills learning.

 

The Air Training Corps 230 (Congleton Squadron) and the Congleton Army Cadets, both based at Rope Walk are also very active in the Town.

Air -minded young people (13-16 years, boys and girls) - flying/gliding/sports/dope/adventure training/camping/shooting

Meet, Wednesdays and Fridays 7.15 - 9.45 pm at Squadron House, Rope Walk, Congleton

Contact: Flt Lt Goodier

Tel: 01260 299882 (Wed-Fri 7 pm to 10pm only)  email atc230sqn:btinternet.com

Visit website

 

 

Christmas is a special time in Congleton thanks to the efforts of Congleton Community Projects and Congleton Town Council. The Street lights are turned on at the end of November, shops are dressed with small illuminated Christmas trees and stalls and entertainment is held in the town. Congleton Community Projects also organise a Food and Drink Festival and tasty town week in June and a Garden Festival in the park over the summer. Carnival is held every other year, with the next on 10 July 2010. The Carnival Committee work extremely hard to ensure a great time is had by all.

Church life is active in Congleton with most of the churches having community rooms which help support their youth groups, luncheon clubs for senior residents and many social events.

More on Churches in Congleton...

 

Congleton has a thriving University of the Third Age organisation, based at St. John’s, West Street, with over 900 hundred members who enjoy life long learning opportunities ranging from art classes through foreign language groups to ecology and book clubs. It is open to everyone retired or semi-retired and is a great place to meet a wide circle of people from diverse backgrounds and interests. Tel 01260 273990.

Website

 

Congleton Partnership, an association of voluntary sector and statutory bodies, is behind many of the projects to revitalise and regenerate the town. It has six working groups, made up of more than 150 volunteers tackling areas such as sustainability, marketing and businesses. Major achievements include developing the River Dane Walkway, town signage, information boards, the Town Centre Plan and Congleton in Transition – regeneration strategy. For more details about the Partnership contact ms@congletontowncouncil.co.uk  or tel 01260 270350

 

The Congleton KISS (Knowledge, Information Sharing and Support) is another voluntary group made up of like minded people from businesses and local groups who promote training, learning and best practise. Since 2006 this group has organised an annual training and careers open day.

 

Supporting the work of many of the voluntary groups and organisations are four local trusts: Congleton Town Trust (1640), Congleton Young Peoples Trust, The Inclosure Trust (1795) and the William Dean Environmental Trust (1993). Between them, they have injected thousands of pounds into supporting voluntary sector activities and initiatives and the town is extremely fortunate to have their support.

 

It is impossible to mention every voluntary organisation in the town and the above are just a few examples to illustrate the vibrancy and massive contribution that such groups make to the quality of life in Congleton.