Origin Scotland has, through our exile events raised funds for a number of charities.

In 2005 Origin Scotland and Origin South Africa raised over GBP 3,500 for an AIDS Orphanage in Cape Town.

Gospel Night 2003 (Edinburgh) raised sufficient funds to pay for the Cape Town events. We are most grateful for the generosity of the Scottish audience which enabled us to raise almost ZAR 5,000 locally (in Cape Town) for an Aids Baby Clinic in the city.

Gospel Night 2002 raised almost GBP 2,000 for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Our UK audiences often support African charities indirectly as well, through helping to pay for events in Africa which in turn help locals to raise funds for their own charities. In this way, we assist local people to fund-raise for their own projects rather than simply bringing in international aid.

About

Originally called the 'Gospel Night Choir and Orchestra' after the style of music most used at our events, we rebranded as in 2003. There are a number of different groups that make up .

Why exile?
While we sing a broad range of styles, our base has always been the Gospel music from the Americas, which was born out of slavery during the dark years in which Africans were harvested and sent to the cotton-fields in the US. From this music which arose out of the exile came the strength which the slaves drew from the stories of the Hebrews in slavery in Egypt, and the image was complete.

Where are you based?
We are located in two places - Edinburgh, Scotland is our home base and we rehearse at Carrubbers Christian Centre, 65 High Street. Rehearsals run from October to March, and happen on a Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm for two hours. Our second base is in Cape Town, South Africa. More details on rehearsal venues and times will be posted here when available.

Who runs it?
is run by Origin Scotland and Origin South Africa. We are a registered charity in the UK (an NGO in South Africa) and a limited company. There is no 'subs' cost for singing, but equally, no payments are made, as all our performers are volunteers.

Gospel Night 2003, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Can I join?
Choir: If you can sing reasonably well (you do not have to ba able to read music, or have previous experience) - and you can be passionate and excited about the music, then yes! You can sign up online. Orchestra: You can register with us to be part of the orchestra (minimum standards apply). For any of our groups, you do of course have to be based within Scotland or the Western Cape!