Cultural Contribution, Take Note Community Choir, sponsor M&G Real Estate
Singing for the community is at the very heart of the Take Note Community Choir’s ethos, says their nominator for the Cultural Contribution award.
The Reading choir performs in support of others, helping them raise funds for their cause and each performance is given free of charge and in the members’ own time.
Last year the choir, which meets at St Joseph’s Church hall in Berkshire Drive, Tilehurst, sang for the Turn Tilehurst Red event to mark Remembrance Day.
They have supported Tilehurst fundraising for Ukraine with two concerts, and choir members also collected medicines, chocolates and, most recently, Easter eggs to be sent to the country.
A busy Christmas season started with Carols by Candlelight in the town hall organised by homeless charity Launchpad and they supported them again with a pancake race team for Shrove Tuesday, raising over £1,000 (the largest amount by any team).
Singing carols at the train station supported the Royal Berkshire Hospital Charity and, outside Waitrose, they raised funds for Reading Lions Club.
Other fundraisers supported The Circle Hospital to boost funds for MND, the hospital’s nominated charity, and Daisy’s Dream at Sainsbury’s.
This year requests have already started to come in, even for December.
“The choir adopted the hashtag #MoreThanJustAChoir as a slogan as they firmly believe they are More Than Just a Choir,” said their nominator, who added: “All of which wouldn’t have happened without their choir leader Derry Pope and the hard work and dedication of every choir member.”
The Cultural Contribution award recognises projects, people and organisations that contribute to the cultural life of Reading, covering music, drama, art and heritage. It is sponsored by M&G Real Estate, the long-term specialist global property investor.

To celebrate people or groups contributing to our town’s impressive cultural tradition go to porawards.co.uk to nominate them.