TWO charities have received substantial donations following the success of a Christmas concert.

Winchester Community Choir has donated £850 each to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) and Key Changes music therapy.

Buoyant ticket sales from the choir's Christmas concert, along with the generosity of audience members, allowed it to donate the vital cash. Charities Representatives from both charities attended a small ceremony on the choir’s rehearsal night January 24, where cheques were presented.

Beccy Read, from Key Changes said: “A huge thanks from all of us to all of you at Winchester Community Choir. £850 is a wonderful amount to receive and will really help us in our efforts to establish music therapy in dementia care in the area.

"Music is one of the only things which continues to make sense to those who have advanced dementia. We are keen to run a pilot for older people who have dementia. Funds from Winchester Community Choir will help provide this, hopefully here in Winchester."

Now in its 12th year, Winchester Community Choir has gained huge popularity in the city, both with its audiences and with singers. In addition to summer and Christmas concerts the choir has sung in a variety of settings for local communities: care homes, the cathedral, in the High Street, the Christmas Market, at the Hat Fair and Woolly Hat Fair and at the Trinity Centre, to name but some.

Alex Lochrane, chief executive of HIOWAA said: "We thank Winchester Community Choir most sincerely for their very welcome and much appreciated donation. As a charity we receive no government funding for operational purposes and we rely entirely on the generosity of the people and businesses of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives."

Choir chair, Wenda Moroney, added: “As a choir we very much belong to our City, giving all we can and singing at local events. Raising money for local charities is very near to our members’ hearts, which is why we always pass on the full ticket take and all donations straight to our nominated charities.

"We are delighted to be able to give these donations to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and Key Changes.”