CREDITON Community Choir and Ploughcappella have been pouring their heart and soul into learning seven beautiful songs which they will sing at a Fundraising Concert in aid of the charity, WaterAid on Saturday, June 23.

The concert will take place at Crediton Congregational Church and will also include two guest choirs, Sandford Sings and Exe Valley Voices.

Jonathan Ponting, from the charity, WaterAid, will be a guest speaker at the concert.

The seven songs that will be featured in this sponsored sing are: "Railroads and Riverboats" - arranged by Wendy Sergeant, "Largo" from Dvorak’s New World Symphony, "So Much Magnificence" - arranged by Wendy Sergeant, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon and Garfunkel - arranged by Ali Orbaum, "What the World Needs Now" - Burt Bacharach - arranged Dee Jarlett, "Likhon ’ithemba lam" - South Africa church choral hymn by Northern Harmony and "Mene Majka" - Bosnia - Samira Merdžanic.

The concert is being held as part of Sing for Water events which raise vital funds for WaterAid.

Alison Whittall, who leads both Crediton Community Choir and Ploughcappella, said: "It’s hard to believe that in 2018, one in three people on the planet doesn’t have a decent toilet. This means that people are forced to go to the loo in the open, compromising their health, safety and dignity.

"As well as that, one in nine don’t have clean water close to home. This means long, daily walks for water, a task often reserved for women and girls. WaterAid is working to change this, and that’s where you come in!

"By being a part of Sing for Water and collecting this sponsorship money for WaterAid, we are helping to change the story for girls like Odette. Living in Bugesera, Rwanda, Odette often has no other option but to collect water for her family from an unprotected water source.

"Despite more than 43 per cent of the population in Rwanda being under 15-years-old, estimates show that more than half of secondary schools in the country do not have access to clean water. This has a huge impact on the health and education of girls like Odette.

"Together, we can change this. The money you raise for Sing for Water West will go directly to a WaterAid project in Rwanda, supporting Odette and more than 81,000 school children just like her. Together, we will deliver clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene into their schools and communities. Thank you for being a part of making this happen!"

Alison said that generous donations to the appeal for the charity would be welcomed and can be made online at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/creditonplough .

Admission to the concert, which will begin at 7.30pm, will be by suggested donation of £5 but those attending can pay what they like on the night.

In addition, a Sing for Water West 2018 Sponsored Sing will take place in Bristol on July 15.

For further details, contact Alison via the website: www.alising.co.uk .

Alternatively, email: [email protected] or telephone 01363 774324.

Alison added: “The money that is raised as part of Sing for Water West this year will go to a WaterAid project in the Bugesera and Nyamagabe districts of Rwanda.

“The aim of the project is to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in schools across these areas, with the intent to reach 81,900 school children by the end of the project.

"WaterAid will install rainwater systems into 41 schools, making the most of Rwanda’s rainy seasons. They will also set up 82 hygiene clubs to encourage positive hygiene behavioural change in school children, as well as training 164 teachers to be water, sanitation and hygiene champions."

Alison said that £4 could pay for a year’s hygiene education for one school child, £24 can help provide one person with access to clean water and £88 could pay to connect a tap to a water source.