Members of Dumbarton’s All Sorts Community Choir have been hard at work rehearsing ahead of their latest fundraiser which will help keep vital services run by St Augustine’s Church open.
Every Sunday, the group – which is made up of around 25 members – gathers in St Augustine’s Church Hall to belt out an array of songs which they perform at care homes, charity fundraisers and community events.
Led by Dumbarton couple Ghislaine and Ricky Kennedy, the choir has raised more than £60,000 for local charities including Erskine and St Margaret’s Hospice.
All Sorts’ latest fundraiser will take place next week, kicking off the first of what will be many outings and performances for the choir as the festive season approaches.
They hope to add to the cash pot raised by Ghislaine – who has already collected thousands of pounds for the High Street Church to ensure it can continue a number of vital and much-loved community services.
During their time at the church, Ghislaine and Ricky – with the help of many involved in the choir – founded a weekly community lunch, an annual Christmas dinner and a food bank within St Augustine’s – which have helped feed thousands of people all over West Dunbartonshire.
They also host regular breakfast meetings in partnership with Dumbarton Recovery Group, supporting those in recovery from addiction.
Members, who hail from across Dumbarton and Alexandria, will host a coffee morning within St Augustine’s Church on November 9, with all money raised donated to the St Augustine’s appeal.
Choir leader Ghislaine, who helped set up the choir more than 13 years ago, is delighted to be back rehearsing with other members, having spent months taking part in sponsored events and organising fundraisers to raise and much as she can for a cause so close to her heart.
Ghislaine, 72, told the Lennox Herald: “St Augustine’s has a number of services which we need to raise money for, otherwise they won’t be able to run any more.
“These services are so, so important as they help people in the community in need, particularly our community lunch which takes place on a Friday every week.
“At Christmas we have families here for a full day for Christmas lunch and we buy gifts for the children, it’s a wonderful day.
“We have a regular breakfast which we run in partnership with Dumbarton Recovery Group which we set up as we wanted to be here for people at as many times of day as we could.
“Everything we do is through money we raise, and this coffee morning is just one of many things to help us reach out target.”
It is set to be a day of musical entertainment, with many performances from the choir, Ghislaine and Ricky. BoogieBox Jive will also be there to put on a show for those who attend, with everyone also in with a chance of winning a hamper filled with goodies.
Ghislaine added: “This is our first choir event since we returned after the summer and we’re all looking forward to welcoming people along.
“It’s all come together brilliantly and we have a lot of great entertainment organised, including some great live music, performances from All Sorts Choir, and Boogie Box are going to be brilliant.
“We’ll have some fantastic treats and home baking on the day as well as a chance to win some great hampers which have kindly been donated as prizes.
“We would love to welcome as many people of all ages to come and enjoy some good music and a cuppa and help us raise some money for charity.”
The coffee morning will take place on November 9, starting at 11am. Entry costs £5 and all money will be donated to St Augustine’s.