A NEW 'singing and sign language' choir is starting in Worcester to increase deaf awareness and raise money for two local charities.

The choir will be run by hearing loss charity Deaf Direct, based in Lowesmoor, Worcester, in collaboration with Soroptimist International (Worcester and District) and is seeking members who want to be singers, signers, choir masters/mistresses and a keyboard player.

There are no minimum requirements to take part, aside from the choir master/mistress of the signing element of the choir, who will need a minimum standard of British Sign Language Level 3 qualification.

Rehearsals will take place fortnightly at Deaf Direct’s head office and will start in September.

Choir members will initially have two separate rehearsals –one for singing, one for signing, but will then be brought together.

The first performance will involve singing and signing Christmas Carols at the Victorian Fayre in November.

For more information or to take part, please contact email lyn@lynda-owen.co.uk if you are a singer or musician, or fundraising@deafdirect.org.uk if you are a signer.