Tewkesbury Town Band has been announced as a category winner in the AVIVA Community Award Competition for 2017. Securing the second highest number of online votes the band won through as a finalist at the close of entries in November. The results of the final judging panel were published on 16 January 2018. The entered project is to reinvigorate a redundant public conveniences building in the town which has not been used for 10 years, and thus create a permanent Band Headquarters. The band will take a 99 year lease on the building from the Tewkesbury Town Council. The ultimate outcome is therefore to leave a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy brass band music making within the community of Tewkesbury and the surrounding area, either as a player or as a member of the audience. Winning £9,500 the band will be able start the necessary conversion and sound proofing of the building to provide a large rehearsal room for the full band, 2 individual lesson rooms, music library, instrument and equipment storage. All these are currently carried out in at least 4 separate locations.
The band's Musical Director, Nigel Morgan, said "In bringing the building and immediate surrounding area back to life the band will be providing a community asset right in the centre of town, making it accessible for young and old and those with mobility disabilities, as level access and ramps will be maintained."
The organisation provides free tuition in brass instrument playing together with free instrument hire to people of all ages but particularly to children and young people via its Training Band. Many of the young people are entered for music grade exams and some continue their music studies onto University, Music Conservatoires or join leading UK brass bands. Between them the bands (Senior and Training) give approximately 50 performances each year in Tewkesbury, the surrounding area and nearby counties, as well as further afield including in its twin town of Miesbach, Bavaria. Tewkesbury Town Band also leads all major parades in the town such as Remembrance Day, Civic Parades and Medieval Parade. The band is really grateful to everyone who voted for their project, to A-Plan Insurance Gloucester who submitted their proposal and to AVIVA for the financial support given to all the winning projects this year.