University screenwriting graduates organise event to raise funds for Blackburn homeless charity
Talented students, staff and graduates from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are coming together to entertain commuters in Manchester with a free concert at Victoria Station in aid of a local homeless charity.
UCLan’s award-winning Chamber Choir, which has performed on BBC One, BBC Four and BBC Radio 3, will be joined by six other performers who are all connected through the University’s screenwriting course for the special one-off show of music and drama on Thursday 24 November.
From 2.00pm on the main concourse of Victoria Train Station the performers will be hoping for donations from passing commuters for The Free Project CIC charity, which provides food and clothing, toiletries, bedding and essential household goods for people who are homeless or living in temporary or transient shelter in Blackburn.
"The funds raised as a result of this amazing collaboration will further enable the project to provide a safe space for guests to visit and receive essential items such as clothing and toiletries."
Free Project volunteer co-ordinator Emma Hammond said: “The Free Project CIC is delighted to be receiving support and recognition as part of this UCLan event. We are an entirely volunteer run organisation, working to offer support to individuals who are in transient accommodation in Blackburn.
“The funds raised as a result of this amazing collaboration will further enable the project to provide a safe space for guests to visit and receive essential items such as clothing and toiletries as well as attend regular social events held at The Hub.”
Other performers joining the UCLan Chamber Choir are musicians Danny Helm, Bill McCoid, Darren Poyser and Graham Windle alongside Ian Hornby who will perform a self-penned monologue and Mo Sowoli, who will share his take on Tennessee Williams’ classic play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
"It’s really exciting to be able to take our work out to a wide and varied audience and hopefully raise a decent amount of money for a local charity at the same time."
Organiser and UCLan screenwriting lecturer Bill McCoid commented: “It’s really exciting to be able to take our work out to a wide and varied audience and hopefully raise a decent amount of money for a local charity at the same time. As a big regional University, UCLan has a great level of social responsibility to help local communities and I hope by holding this concert we can make a difference and raise the profile of the Free Project CIC.”
To learn more about the Free Project CIC follow the charity on Twitter twitter@thefreeproject1 or on Facebook @tfp2016.