Histon Ten Sing started in April 1996 after being inspired by several visits to the area by a Norwegian Ten Sing group. We are unusual in that we started up without knowing of the existence of other UK groups and that we meet in Baptist & Parish church halls rather than travel to the local YMCA. However, we soon got linked up and are now part of Cambridge YMCA. We are finding this very effective, being church based yet part of the YMCA.

It is a great encouragement to have the support of people like Tony Malcolm & Judith Jenner, YMCA England, David Pendle, Anglia Region Development Officer and the local Chief Executive Bob Coleman.

Membership is drawn from the Impington Village College catchment area (1200 students from a dozen villages just north of Cambridge). The college is known nationally as one of the few that offers sixth formers the International Baccalaureate exam in addition to A-levels.

This autumn almost 30 new teenagers have joined, swelling our numbers to 50+ if everybody turned up at the same time! Every year the membership structure has been different both in age and interests and this is reflected in the weekly activities. It is important to be flexible! One year we just could not get the whole group to learn many songs with harmonies, and for our concert had to choose lots of solo & duet numbers, instrumental pieces, dance and drama.

We meet Saturday evenings in term time. This may seem strange, but is a night that does not clash with any other activity in the area. It is particularly popular with the younger ones (who are not allowed into Cambridge), but even the older ones find it all right (most of the time)!

We currently have half a dozen adults to help during the evenings. We also enjoy the occasional visits from local people with particular skills in, for instance diction, juggling and creative writing.

Activities: The last year has been full of different activities, both local and national. Last December we enjoyed joining the other Ten Sing groups in forming a choir at the World Aids Day service in Southwark Cathedral, London. We've performed at Cambridge YMCA's AGM, at village and church events, at birthday parties and old peoples homes. Early October we were quite excited about singing in Somerleyton Hall, Suffolk at an Anglia Region YMCA event and in the presence of Lord Somerleyton and other dignitaries.

Otherwise we put on a fundraising dinner for 70 people in aid of a portable PA system and we raised a very respectable £775. The Ten Singers provided the entertainment as well as did the decorating, food preparation, cooking, serving and clearing up! It was also encouraging to receive grants totalling £3,500 towards the PA fund. Occasionally we also do just social excursions like ice skating or ten pin bowling or punting.

Future plans: We have a concert coming up 27th November, a creative workshop weekend 4-5th December, another fundraising dinner 18th December (Caribbean Christmas theme, tickets £11 if you wish to come!) and we are attending a Norwegian Ten Sing Festival in February. We'll continue with foreign group exchanges and have groups earmarked for next autumn and June 2001. In the longer run we are planning to give concerts at local village colleges with a view to encourage the start up of new groups.

It is fantastic to be involved with Ten Sing. It can be frustrating and exhausting, yet a huge privilege. God is our Creator and we are created in His image. That means that there is latent, if not always obvious, creativity in us all! Jesus came to give us life in all its fullness, and Ten Sing can play a part in that.

I'd like to encourage anybody who is thinking about starting a Ten Sing group to do so!

Tel: 01223 234383 E-mail: randaberg@themutual.net