Appeal for more Unlocking Warwick volunteers

Unlocking Warwick is a project run by a team of volunteers that works to promote and make the Court House in Jury Street a key place in the community.

The volunteers and committee work closely with the town council to provide events all year round, including the popular regency ball.

This year Unlocking Warwick are set to provide even more events and are looking to recruit more volunteers.

Unlocking Warwick secretary Rick Thompson said: “It’s very nice to be in demand to help bring the community together with a range of events, but we could do a lot more if we had more volunteers in the group.

“As well as planning Court House tours through the summer to introduce visitors to the history of the town, the social club called ‘In the Ballroom’ has been a big success and will continue for the foreseeable future.

“These monthly drop-in sessions feature a talk, a quiz, and tea, coffee and cake with plenty of opportunity to meet new people.

“We are particularly keen to see Warwick residents who might not get out very much and may feel a little isolated.

The next social gathering ‘In the Ballroom’ will be on March 9 at 2pm and we are holding our first tea dance on February 23, which should be great fun.”

The volunteer group are also planning to continue its series of period dances in the Court House ballroom and on May 27 there will be a celebration of the 80s with a disco, fish supper, quiz and a display of newspaper cuttings.

The group has also announced the date for the Warwick Christmas regency ball, which will be on December 9.

In addition to the events, the volunteers are also researching the town’s past at the County Record Office to find stories, which can be converted into a talk or a dramatic reconstruction.

Mandy Littlejohn, chair of the Town Council’s community and cultural committee, said: “The Unlocking Warwick volunteers have enabled the Court House to hold events for the community of Warwick to enjoy since a Heritage Lottery grant enabled the repair of the building, which then reopened in 2014.

“It has been wonderful that the Ballroom has been able to be used again for the benefit of the community, as it was in 1728 when it was rebuilt after the great fire of Warwick. Without the volunteers this would not have been possible.”

If anyone would like to find out more about volunteering with Unlocking Warwick, email [email protected] or leave your details at the Visitor Information Centre in Jury Street.