At a glittering Diversity Awards ceremony at Staffordshire University on 10th February, 2006, SMADP won the top award in the 'Celebrating Diversity' category, as well as a cash award to help boost funds.
Pictured here are Judy and Rosie recieving the Diversity Award from Christine King, Vice Chancellor of the University and Mike Cooke, Chief Executive of South Staffs Healthcare NHS Trust
Our man Chris did some excellent PR and was widely quoted in the local press afterwards. He had this to say on the award, "With our Arts Council start-up grant having come to an end last Christmas this award couldn't have come at a better time. .. It will help raise awareness of this wonderfully diverse music in an area not traditionally known for promoting diversity" ("My Leek Paper" - Feb 15th)
As a condition of the award SMADP were committed to making at least six public performances during the year...
UPDATE 2007 - Well, we managed our six performances in 2006, including welldressings at Werrington and Endon, a charity gig in aid of Medicins Sans Frontieres and a thumping performance at the Leek Arts Festival in May.
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