THE GlastonBeoley Music Festival has raised a staggering £10,029 for good causes.
The event, held on June 9, attracted visitors from across the Midlands and featured more than 20 bands and artists playing in two venues, the festival field and nearby Beoley Village Inn.
Organiser Debbie Joynes, who performs in the duo Imaner with her musical partner Dave said: “We’re absolutely chuffed to bits – overwhelmed really. In my mind I was hoping we would reach £5,000 but I was also thinking, don’t set your hopes too high – so to reach £10,000 is absolutely brilliant.”
The charities to benefit are Deafblind UK and the Mental Health Foundation.
“They are two charities close to our hearts – Dave has a daughter who is deaf while I’m a psychotherapist in real life and I know how the cuts have affected people,” said Debbie.
“When I started one in four people were expected to have some kind of mental health issue in their lifetime, now it’s closer to one in three.
“I thought, instead of shouting at the telly at the lack of resources I would try and do something positive.”
Throughout the organisers were backed by Beoley-based UK and Europe logistics firm Oakland International.
“Oakland were absolutely brilliant – in fact we couldn’t have done it without them.
“I approached them to see if they could give us a little bit of help but they assigned a member of staff to us and simply couldn’t do enough for the festival.”
Already there is talk of doing another GlastonBeoley next year, but Debbie is cautious about committing too soon to a re-run in 12 months.
“On the one hand I would do one next month if I could, but on the other our families have said ‘oh, you’re back then’. So I’m hoping maybe next year but if not, definitely the year after,” she said.
