A MUSIC centre charity has benefitted from a boost of £2,000 from a housing developer.

The centre, which is based at Larkmead School in Abingdon, received the money following an appeal by the Kidlington-based developers Pye Homes.

The developer wanted to nominate a local good cause as part of its building of the new Church Farm community in Radley.

Pye Homes’ managing director, Graham Flint said: “We were delighted with the response to the appeal and it was a difficult decision to decide on an overall winner but we all agreed Abingdon Music Centre plays a key role in the area and will undoubtedly benefit from the extra funds."

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The Abingdon Music Centre was established over 40 years ago. It runs baby and pre-school music classes, recorder and musicianship, guitar and music-making classes for school-age children, and a community choir, ladies’ choirs, orchestra and various instrumental groups for adults.

Helen Eccleston, director of Abingdon Music Centre said: “The donation will specifically go towards our ‘Singing for Pleasure’ group. It is a drop-in choir whose members are mainly 60+.

“There is a lot of research about the physical and mental health benefits of group singing and this group is designed to give members an opportunity to have fun singing together as well as interacting with other people."

She added: “This donation will help secure the future of the group for at least the next year by allowing them to book the venue and pay for the conductor and accompanist, even if numbers are limited again."

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