A LIVE stage with singers performing hits from all the decades of the Queen’s reign will be the centrepiece of Barrow's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Eight grants totalling £42,000 have been donated to voluntary and community organisations in preparation for the occasion.

The funding has been provided by the Arts Council England's Let's Create Jubilee Fund.

CANDOFM community radio station, Barrow Business Improvement District and Barra Culture, alongside businesses, will be hosting the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in Barrow town centre on June 4.

Jonny Williams, manager of the station, said: “A live stage with tribute and local performers representing popular music from all the decades of the Queen’s reign will provide a musical backdrop alongside choirs, a magician, caricaturist and street entertainers.

"There will also be lots of opportunities to get hands-on with creative activities such as a pop-up choir, drumming workshops, face painting, tie-dye activity, and much more.” 

The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will ensure that thousands of people from communities all across England will have the opportunity to take part in exciting creative events – all in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee.

From puppetry and story creation, to making crowns, carnival and art trails, there will be a huge range of exciting activities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in.

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the Let’s Create Jubilee Fund has been administered by UK Community Foundations on behalf of Arts Council England.

The programme is designed to help voluntary and community organisations develop creative and cultural events to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.

Cumbria Community Foundation is one of 44 community foundations awarding grants across the country on behalf of the Arts Council.

Andy Beeforth, CEO of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The Queen's Platinum Jubilee is a unique opportunity for people to get together and celebrate in their communities.

"We are proud to have connected Arts Council England with local organisations whose imaginative and exciting projects and collaborations with professional artists will bring communities together to enjoy marking this milestone moment in our history.”

HM Queen Elizabeth II is the first monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, having overtaken Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in 2015. 

Her reign has been marked by a commitment to public service, reflected by her extensive programme of engagements at home and abroad, and support for over 600 cultural organisations, charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations.