00:00I'm not from Whitehaven, but I love this town. I love the people here, but I have a few things
00:10in life which I feel really strongly about. One of them is financial inequality. I don't
00:17believe it should be necessary to spend £50, £60 going to see a pop concert with your
00:27So we, as an organisation, took the opportunity to reach out to our amazing sponsors. Please
00:34take note of the names that have been on the stage. Those organisations gave us the money
00:41to allow you all to attend for free. It also goes without saying that this can't happen
00:52without a huge team of people. I have an amazing committee and two fellow directors who work
00:58with me, but also the teams behind the police and the fire and, of course, West Cumbria
01:05Search and Rescue. This event couldn't happen without them. But we have been honoured this
01:13evening, and the King's representative has come along tonight to introduce an act you
01:21might have heard of. Please welcome to the stage somebody who you know, a very well-respected
01:27local man, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mr Gerard Richardson.
01:37Hi, can you hear me? Thank you. I've been asked to say a few words, but I know you've
01:46come to see me, so I'll be very short. As Deputy Lord Lieutenant, I encourage the many
01:53volunteer organisations in our county to help make Cumbria the best place to live in the
01:58world. Today is the second day of the three-day Festival of Colours. It celebrates not only
02:05the extent of diversity within our community, but also focuses on social inequalities. Today
02:13is a truly wonderful example of an event that celebrates diversity and inclusivity
02:18here in the West Coast. Yesterday, the Colours Hub on King Street was officially opened by
02:25my colleague, the High Sheriff. The crowd in diverse Cumbria raised an amazing £400,000
02:33to create a facility that was very much needed. The Colours Hub includes a youth zone, a cafe
02:40and shopping centre, counselling rooms. It provides peer mentoring, a welcoming ear
02:47and a safe place for vulnerable adults and the isolated elderly. Tonight's free concert
02:53is headlined by Blue and Wigfield. Thousands of free tickets have been given away to ensure
03:04that anyone and everyone can attend. The focus is upon highlighting social inequalities and
03:10the aim is to do what it's done to bring a smile to your faces. Now I trust everyone
03:15will enjoy this concert in a community that celebrates equality, inclusivity and diversity
03:22more than ever before. Now finally, I know from personal experience how hard it is to
03:29put an event like this on and they haven't been blessed by the weather. So before Blue
03:34come on the stage, can you give this guy and his team of volunteers a great big cheer.
03:48Are you ready for a headliner?
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