A community choir has launched a bursary to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.

The Victoria Park Singers’ choral conductor Hannah Brine is offering 90pc off the cost of a term to help singers who are in receipt of benefits to join in. Rather than £90, the price will be £9.

A spokesman said: “We’ve not received any funding – this is something Hannah is enabling to happen instead.

“We feel it’s so important to give back to the community we are living and working in.

“So many of our members have been touched by mental illness and seen the positive impact singing together has, so we wanted to take this opportunity to offer this to more singers for whom the choir may have been inaccessible in the past.”

The non-auditioned choir includes people from all age groups and different levels of experience, and meets Wednesday nights in Lauriston Primary School.

To apply email info@victoriaparksingers.co.uk.