AN AWARD-winning brass band is hoping to raise enough money to go on tour in Norway.

Kearsley Youth Brass Band (KYBB) were recently honoured with The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The award is the equivalent of an MBE for community-run projects. Any volunteer-led group comprising two or more people that are making a positive impact on the lives of other people in an exceptional way can be nominated for an award.

Founder of KYBB, Stephen Tonge said: "We've never sought awards so we never got any.

"For the QAVS, you've got to be nominated and fortunately last year, the former mayor Cllr Elaine Sherrington came to our own awards ceremony and told us she'd nominate us.

"She kept to her word and we actually won.

"It was a great honour for KYBB to receive the award for our work."

The recipients of the awards are announced every year on June 2 - the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation and a ceremony was held at Gorton Monastery on August 28.

It was hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren Smith and representatives from all the boroughs are invited to attend.

Four other projects in Bolton also gained the award - Bolton Solidarity Community Association Building, Hafway, Halliwell Befriending Service, and Senior Solutions.

KYBB are hoping the success of the win can help with their crowdfunding efforts to visit Norway next year, for the band's tenth anniversary.

Mr Tonge added: "When we set the band up, the idea was to give the opportunity for the hard to reach groups to get their children playing an instrument.

"We've done that free for the last nine years. Kids who join get free tuition, a free instrument, and free uniform which saves them a lot of money.

"We do a lot of events and tour around pubs with a bucket to collect funds.

"For our tenth year, we're planning on having a tour to Norway because our two musical directors have a lot of connections in Oslo.

"We're trying to raise our own funds and the target is £20,000 which is a big challenge. We're appealing to all local business to donate towards this."

To donate towards KYBB's tour of Norway, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kybb-oslo2020.