A Ukrainian mother – who’s been living in Exmouth during the conflict – has inspired a forthcoming charity fundraising concert at Christ Church on North Street.

The Benefit Concert for Ukraine – featuring PSO plus special guests jazz and blues trio Blue Honey – is at Christ Church, North Street, Exmouth on Friday February 23, 7pm for 7.30pm.

Tea, coffee and light refreshments are free of charge. Free admission. Suggested donation: £10 for UNICEF and Samaritans’ Purse International.

With attention focusing on recent events in the Middle East, she’s concerned that the Ukraine war may have taken a back seat in people’s minds.

But as the present conflict approaches its second anniversary, she says Ukrainian families still urgently need humanitarian support.

“The Ukrainian mum – who’s been staying with a host family in Exmouth – is a member of our congregation,” says Richard Glazebrook, who helps to lead the music at Christ Church.

“She wants people here to remember that the war is ongoing and that humanitarian aid – such as food, clothing, medicines and shelter – is still desperately needed.

“We hope that our benefit concert will help to do just that.”

The fundraiser – on the eve of the conflict’s second anniversary – is jointly led by Christ Church and Exmouth-based jazz and blues collective the Paul Strange Organisation. All the musicians are giving their services for free.

“I want to thank the Paul Strange Organisation for such a beautiful initiative,” says Bishop Josep Rossello, minister at Christ Church. “Our church has taken a pro-active role to visit, raise money and support Ukraine in the last two years.”

“We hope our performance will raise money for Ukrainian families in need,” says PSO keyboardist Paul Strange. “It’s vital we don’t forget that innocent people’s lives are being ruined by the ongoing conflict.”

As well as Paul Strange (Hammond organ and piano), PSO features Marcus Burton (guitar), Tim Pilling (bass) and Richard Glazebrook (drums). They’ll be playing a mix of Hammond groove classics – such as Booker T’s ‘Green Onions’ and “Time is Tight” – plus jazz standards, including Miles Davis’s ‘All Blues’ and Kenny Burrell’s ‘Chitlins Con Carne’, and some originals.