A COMMUNITY organisation in Bewdley is appealing for donations to help fund a musical talent competition.

Bewdley Youth Festival has already raised £570 from 10 supporters through ‘crowd-funding’ website Spacehive, but needs a further £251 by a deadline of Tuesday to make its plans a reality.

If the target is met it will run a competition on July 12 at St George’s Hall, using a similar format to The Voice show with a panel of judges awarding prizes for the best solo performer, duo, group and original composition.

Peter Barnett, the organiser of the planned event, said: “Bewdley Youth Festival has developed a reputation for supporting young musicians across Wyre Forest.

“As part of our event we want to showcase as much of that talent in a music competition open to all musicians who are currently under 18 or in full-time education.”

Peter added that reaching the crowd-funding target would unlock financial support from the central government.

If the competition gets the go-ahead, youth acts will benefit from working with professional sound engineers, receiving constructive feedback from the panel of music industry experts and gaining the exposure and experience of playing in front of a live audience.

Bewdley Youth Festival has supported numerous youth acts who are now progressing in the music industry, such as Swallows, a five-piece band who will perform at Hopfest.

The Bewdley event will also form part of Our Big Gig, a national celebration of community music with more than 170 free festivals take place throughout England and Scotland.

Katharine Lane, director of Superact, the not-for-profit organisation behind Our Big Gig, said: “Just as football will unite thousands of people this summer at the World Cup, so too will music.”

To donate visit spacehive.com/bewdleyyouthfestival