ONLY Kids Aloud Choir has recently received a financial contribution courtesy of NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer.

The donation came from its Community Giving Fund (CGF) and will go towards training the chorus ready for their performance at one of the worlds most prestigious opera houses in South Africa in April 2014.

The Community Giving Fund aims to support local schools, charities and community groups by financial donations or via the use of our facilities and resources.

Sam Mules who has an 11-year-old daughter in the choir said: "I am incredibly proud that Zoe has been accepted from children all over Wales to be part of the choir which is led by Tim Rhys-Evans, who has had a lot of past success with his other groups Only Men Aloud and Only Boys Aloud."

Wales Millennium Centre is the international performing arts centre for Wales which aims to develop and showcase the best Welsh talent to the world. Following Pan Wales auditions, the Centre created a chorus made up of children from across the country.

They are currently being trained by leading artists within the musical field, with the ambition for them to represent Wales on various national and international platforms.

"This project provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for the children to travel to Capetown and perform in one of the world's most prestigious opera houses, whilst also taking part in a cultural exchange as part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa. We would like to thank NFU Mutual for its generous contribution and for supporting this Welsh project," Sam said.