MUSIC lovers across the city and beyond helped volunteers for the Worcester Music Festival raise a staggering £5,216.38 for Worcester Foodbank, a charity supporting vulnerable members of the local community.
The cash raised will provide at least 350 local residents with emergency food for three days, preventing those at risk from going hungry. The funds will support the charity’s ongoing work to offer nutritionally balanced meals to those who are in crisis.
The 2019 showcase took place from September 13 to 15 and saw more than 250 performances take place. Musicians and artists travelled from across the country to perform for free to support the cause. Festival-goers made donations to the charity buckets available in venues and carried by the outrageously dressed charity team who donned a range of incredible fancy dress throughout the weekend.
Grahame Lucas, manager of Worcester Foodbank, said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated during the festival and to the organisers for giving us such a great platform to raise awareness of hunger. It’s a huge boost to our efforts to help the growing number of people who are turning to us for support.
Nicola Boraston, festival director, added: “We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our festival-goers. This year, our volunteers really have put their heart and soul into organising the event. From the artists and the sound engineers to charity collectors and promoters, the festival team would like to thank everyone involved for making this possible.”
The cheque was presented at the festival’s photography showcase where winners of this year’s photography competition were also announced. Amateur photographers were invited to share their memories from the festival in a bid to win prizes donated by sponsors, Annie’s Burger Shack.
Sarah Lissemore John came third with her perfectly captured shot of Zilch at the Firefly. Placed second was Nigel Farr’s atmospheric shot of Disrobe, also at the Firefly. And first came Cerys John with a resonating photo of HEY YOU GUYS at The Marrs Bar.
Applications for local charities to be the beneficiaries of 2020’s event will open soon.
