CHOIRS and voices in and around the county are being invited to take part in a mass concert at Hereford Cathedral to help fight global poverty.


As part of the national Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign the Hereford diocese has joined forces with Hereford-based international development charity, Concern Universal.


The event will take place on June 8 at Hereford Cathedral – to coincide with the run-up to the arrival of leaders from the world’s eight richest nations in Northern Ireland for the G8 meeting.


Anni Holden said, on behalf of the diocese of Hereford: “We want to have as big a choir of people as possible, all coming together to perform a song composed specially for the day. It is local and open to all, we don’t see any county borders.”


Ms Holden said the IF campaign – which is being led nationally by Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis for the Church of England – is ambitious and focuses on petitioning David Cameron to use his presidency of the G8 to take a lead on hunger.


Beth Williams, responsible for co-ordinating the choirs who want to be involved, said: “This is a great opportunity for local people to get involved with a national campaign.


“We work with some of the poorest people around the world to help lift them out of poverty and one of the biggest things holding them back is the lack of food.”


The concert is set to be held on the same day thousands of campaigners will gather in London to urge G8 leaders to tackle hunger.


“We will be part of a trail of different events happening all over the country,” said Ms Holden.


“We hope lots of local choirs and singers will take part, bring a banner telling us which choir they are and wearing their robes if that’s what they normally do. We want to make a serious point in a fun way.”


Any choir or singer who would like to be involved is asked to email beth.williams@concern-universal.org, call 01432 355111 or for more information and free posters go to concern-universal.org and follow the link.