One hundred and fifteen Students from leading theatre school, Belfast School of Performing Arts (BSPA), have come together to release a single to raise funds for the Cancer Fund for Children.
During lockdown, the talented students have all banded together to help others by belting out their own virtual version of Gary Barlow’s beautiful song ‘Sing’.
Peter Corry, Artistic Director at BSPA, which has a total of eight schools across the Province says it has been a challenging but heartfelt and positive experience for all the young people involved;
“At BSPA we believe in the importance of helping others, we had recently just secured the Cancer Fund for Children as our designated charity and with our 10th anniversary coming up in January 2021, it felt like the right time to create something very special, current circumstances meant that we needed to adapt from our norm and we have created a virtual song. Creating this song has been such fun and students have been so enthusiastic, each rehearsing and recording the song in their bedroom, living room or garden, they have all given it so much passion and joy and as you can see and hear, that really shines through.”
Jane Hoare, Head of Fundraising, from the Cancer fund for Children is delighted that the money raised will go towards the charity;
“As a charity we rely heavily on fundraising from events and activities that have had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has had a major impact on our income. However, cancer and how it affects children and families will not stop during this, and neither can we. To hear this song and see how much effort and thought has gone into it by the students at BSPA gives me a great sense of appreciation and I’d like to send a very big thank you to all involved for thinking of Cancer Fund for Children at this time. The monies raised will go towards funding our organisation which is continuing to work with families remotely, delivering individual and group support to children and young people, by phone and online, helping to reduce isolation, respond to any worries they may have, and crucially connect them with other young people experiencing cancer.”
Mum of one of the students at the Lisburn School, Fiona Mulholland says this charity single is very close to her heart;
“My daughter Grace is a student at BSPA and she loves gong every week, her little sister Mollie, when she was aged just 2 years and 10 months, was diagnosed with cancer. Mollie is doing really well now, but at the time we were knocked sideways as a family. The Cancer Fund for Children was amazing, we were assigned a support worker very early on in Mollie’s treatment and they treated us with such kindness and love, helping us with support, both emotionally and financially. We enjoyed a stay in Daisy Lodge which was one of the most idyllic places I have ever been. Mollie had just finished her treatment and was still compromised so going anywhere else would not have been possible. I’d say it was like going to a 5 star hotel while at the same time feeling like you were ‘at your Mum’s house’! The whole family got looked after and were able to connect emotionally while enjoying a bit of downtime. We got our hair done, had facials, played games and there were activities put on for the kids so they could go and play and we could rest and relax. This charity helped my family so much, I was delighted to hear that BSPA were nominating them for their charity of the year and this single is just incredible, I’m sure it will help raise much needed funds for such an amazing local charity who will in turn help another family through what we went through.”
Tina McVeigh, Director at BSPA is delighted with the end result;
“These young people are so very talented and it’s been such a pleasure to listen to this song that they have lovingly created to help others, I’m very proud of them and I am looking forward to the day that they can all dance, sing and act together once again. Each school had been well underway in preparation for their annual shows and I know the students were disappointed to have missed that opportunity to perform, I hope that this has given them that connection with their fellow students and given them a fun project to focus on while helping others and doing what they do best and love most.”
Belfast School of Performing arts is soon to celebrate their 10th anniversary and now teaches over 700 pupils aged from just three years old up to those aged nineteen. The aim of the school is to raise confidence and self-belief in the students, through developing performance skills in a safe and encouraging environment.
To find out more please visit thebspa.co.uk
To donate to the BSPA charity single ‘Sing’ please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BSPA2020
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