A concert in aid of Ely Foodbank has raised more than £1,000. 

Musicians of the Medlock Sinfonia hosted the concert on March to help the Foodbank continue supporting people in Ely and across East Cambridgeshire. 

Ely Foodbank started as a temporary emergency project, but 12 years later it serves more people than ever from its distribution locations in Ely, March, Chatteris, Burwell, Soham, Waterbeach, Cottenham and Haddenham

Ely Standard: The concert was held in aid of Ely Foodbank. The concert was held in aid of Ely Foodbank. (Image: Lucinda Price Photography)

Part of The Trussell Trust, a Christian organisation that aims to stop hunger in the UK, donations for the foodbank come from a variety of locations, including local supermarkets, churches, and individuals.

Opening the event, Ely Foodbank volunteer Frank Danes, said: "None of us who were there at that meeting in 2012 thought we would still be giving out food parcels in 2024, but here we are, and the need is greater than ever.

"In 2010, there were two hundred foodbanks in this country, now there are as many foodbanks as there are branches of McDonalds”.

The Sinfonia performed some of classical music’s most famous pieces, including Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, Albinoni’s Adagio for Strings, Tchaikovsky’s Andante Cantabile and Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nacht Musik.

Ely Standard: The Sinfonia’s next charity concert will take place on September 14 at Histon Baptist Church.The Sinfonia’s next charity concert will take place on September 14 at Histon Baptist Church. (Image: Lucinda Price Photography)

Members of Ely Choral Society performed two solo items before joining the orchestra for Handel's majestic coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest.

East Anglia’s finest chamber orchestra has raised thousands of pounds for charities in recent years.

The Sinfonia’s next charity concert will take place on September 14 at Histon Baptist Church, in aid of Camtrust, a charity offering training for independent living for adults with learning difficulties.

They provide individually tailored training programmes, ranging from ICT and core skills to arts & crafts and supported work experience.

Medlock Sinfonia hope they will be able to raise even more to help families through the festive season, which for many can be a very challenging time of year and is currently planning an Advent Concert in Ely, once again in aid of the foodbank.