Celebrities back Christmas single to fight child poverty

A host of Coronation Street celebrities are supporting a campaign by a sixth form college and schools in the Blackpool area who are releasing a Christmas single today that highlights the issue of child poverty and aims to raise money for charity.

Famous faces from the soap world including Tina O’Brien, Alan Halsall and Oliver Farnworth have backed the Christmas song entitled ‘A Christmas Miracle’ that is released on Friday 2nd December on iTunes for 79p, as well as on other platforms, with all proceeds being donated to The Children’s Society.

Teachers and students at The Blackpool Sixth Form College have composed and produced the song. Ten schools from across the Fylde coast of Lancashire joined up with Blackpool Sixth Form students and a number of community music groups and local companies to record the single.

The song makes use of the Christmas story to deliver a hopeful message about how people can act together to ‘turn the world around’. The focus on child poverty has a particular relevance in Blackpool where the percentage of children living in poverty is 30.6% (against a national average of 21.4% and a North West average of 19.2%*).

Schools across the UK are also being sent the sheet music and have been asked to get involved on social media tweeting their versions of the song along with the #BeTheMiracle hashtag so raise awareness nationally.

The Children’s Society campaigns on many issues that affect disadvantaged children and the money raised will support the charity’s work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable 10-18 year olds across the county. The charity also runs services in Lancashire and across the country for and children on the streets affected by sexual exploitation, those missing from home and advocacy services and early family support.

The Children’s Society’s Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled that The Blackpool Sixth Form College and so many schools and community groups in Lancashire have teamed up to launch this this uplifting song to raise awareness and support vulnerable children this festive season.

“Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for so many young people and we are truly grateful to everyone involved in putting this single together and also those who buy it. Funds raised from this single will help us continue our vital work with children and young people who have nowhere left to turn.”

Blackpool Sixth music teachers Ash Goodinson and John Stevens teamed up with English teacher, Steve Spencer, to create the song.