'Community choir has been my saviour for 10 years'

John Devine,in Marchand
Aimee Dexter
News imageJohn Devine/BBC Two women standing next to each other with their heads touching. The woman on the left has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing black-framed glasses, a mustard yellow T-shirt and a black jacket. The woman on the right has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing brown-framed glasses, a pink patterned T-shirt and a navy jacket. People are sitting behind them on chairs.John Devine/BBC
Debs Braam and Judith Forster are both in the March choir

A woman who has attended a community choir for 10 years says it has been her "saviour".

March Can't Sing Choir was formed in Cambridgeshire in 2016 with a grant from the Healthy Fenland Fund.

The choir for people in and around March meets on Wednesdays.

Debs Braam, 64, who has been part of the group since 2016, said: "It has given me a lot of confidence, and it is my saviour really. It has been my saviour over the last 10 years through hard times."

She added: "I joined because I wanted to make more friends and I wanted to sing. Out of it I get get friendship, camaraderie, fun and confidence."

Healthy Fenland Fund is supported by Cambridgeshire County Council.

News imageJohn Devine/BBC People standing in rows and sitting on chairs, facing the front. They are in a community hall which has several windows with closed curtains.John Devine/BBC
The choir meets every Wednesday

The choir, which is a not-for-profit community group run by a voluntary committee, has performed at the St George's Day Fayre and the March Christmas Market, as well as visiting care homes.

Judith Forster joined the choir after she moved to the town.

"I wanted primarily to get into some music and meet some people," she said.

"I walked in one night three and a half years ago and was welcomed with open arms, and now I have fantastic friends here."

News imageJohn Devine/BBC A woman standing in the middle of a room with a wooden floor and several chairs with people sitting on them. She has white hair in a ponytail, and is wearing green-framed glasses, a patterned top and a white cardigan.John Devine/BBC
Sally Rose says the choir "brings out the best in people"

Sally Rose, who founded the choir, said it was set up to "promote the wellbeing of people" who lived in the town and nearby.

She said the group ranged in age from 30 to people in their 90s.

"It brings out the best in people, helps release all the healthy endorphins that are in your brain, keeps your brain and wellbeing healthy, boosts your confidence, and just makes you feel absolutely great," she said.

"Once people are through the door it makes them feel at home... and it helps to ground and level people and let them focus on themselves for a little while."

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