A charity concert has raised almost £2,200 for a hospice service.

Sidmouth Parish Church hosted Sidmouth Talent – a Glimpse! on Saturday, October 4, which was attended by 170 people.

The event was organised by Sidmouth resident and musician, Sylvia Brownlee, and included more than 120 participants.

The concert was in aid of Sidmouth Hospice at Home, the hospice service for Sidmouth and the Sid Valley.

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Sidmouth Parish Church hosted Sidmouth Talent – a Glimpse! which was attended by 170 people (Image: Sidmouth Hospice at Home) Sylvia was motivated by her own interaction with the service some years ago, and recently was inspired after hearing a hospice update from charity CEO, Al Cameron, at a Trefoil Guild community event.

Sylvia said: "Some years ago, I’d already benefited from the support of the hospice at a time when I definitely needed someone’s help, and that’s stayed with me.

"When Al explained the extent of the service the hospice provides today, being 24/7, that it doesn’t receive any government funding and relies entirely on donations, I just sat there and thought ‘I must raise some money. How can I do it?’

"Coincidentally, I’d just joined the Community Choir, so put that together with my own musical contacts, and Sidmouth Talent was born."

Sidmouth Hospice at Home is the charity hospice service for Sidmouth and the wider Sid Valley, funding a team of 12 specialist palliative care nurses, a range of support services, a Wellbeing Centre in Sidford and an Information Hub located on Sidmouth High Street.

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Unlike all counterpart hospice services in Devon and the majority country wide, it does not receive any government funding to support its costs of more than £890,000 per year.

Sidmouth Talent – a Glimpse! raised almost £2,200 for the hospice charity, and according to head of community engagement, Sharon Coombes, valuable awareness too.

She said: "Sylvia is a great friend to our charity. When she told me about her idea, I had no doubt that she would make it a brilliant reality. And Sylvia did not disappoint.

"The concert was an evening full of fun, variety, and an amazing amount of talent."

"People aren’t necessarily aware that the Sid Valley has its very own hospice service in Sidmouth Hospice at Home, and events like this not only raise much needed funds but also give us the chance to engage and thank the community for their ongoing support.

"They have really taken us to their hearts in recent years, and we are hugely appreciative.

"Sidmouth Hospice at Home really is something for the Sid Valley to be proud of."

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After the sell-out success of 2024, Sylvia says that Sidmouth Talent will return in 2025, with the concert being part of a milestone year for the charity, as it marks 40 years of service to the community with a series of celebratory events.

Sylvia added: “I did have the initial idea for the concert, but without the willing assistance of all those who took part, it wouldn’t have been possible.

"Sincere thanks to Sidmouth Gospel Choir, Pacey and Lolly-Louise Shephard, Sidmouth Community Choir, Sidmouth Ukelele Band, Jazz Trio, Our Choir of Sidbury and the many others that gave their time and talent.

"Their collective enthusiasm is infectious and we’re doing it all again on Saturday 25th October 2025.”