RCT Young Carers choir give emotional performance at St Paul’s Cathedral

• Service to feature on Songs of Praise in New Year
• Young carers delight 160 strong audience in London

Emotions were running high as Action for Children’s RCT Young Carers choir, Young Carers Aloud, performed in front of 160 guests at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on 23rd October.

Action for Children held 150th birthday thanksgiving celebration with the Methodist Church at St Paul’s Cathedral and the choir was asked to sing in a service that will feature on the BBC’s Songs of Praise in January.

Guests included trustees, volunteers, legacy pledgers, supporters, old boys and girls, former and current staff and children’s services commissioners.

Hannah, (16) a young carer and choir member, said: ‘To perform at St Paul’s Cathedral was a once in a life time opportunity and to be part of Action for Children’s 150th anniversary thanksgiving service was brilliant. The support I’ve had from the project has helped me with my confidence and I wouldn’t have been able to do all this without them. It was a really special night for all of us and I will never forget it.’

Choirmaster and young person’s practitioner for the project, Laura Jones, added: ‘We were all so excited and a bit nervous but they handled it incredibly well. It was a very emotional moment given what these wonderful young people do on a daily basis. They are a joy to work with as they are so keen and sing beautifully. It was a huge honour to be asked to sing at St Paul’s Cathedral and I’m delighted they rose to the occasion so magnificently.’

Project coordinator, Trudy Fisher, said: ‘These young people have responsibilities and duties that many people would find hard to imagine. They are selfless and totally committed to their families. We are proud to support them and help them through really challenging circumstances.

‘They respond really well and singing in the choir has also helped them enormously. They’ve even written one of the songs themselves, Behind Closed Doors, reflecting the isolation young carers often feel. It was a privilege to be there to see them sing that song in particular, I’m very proud of them all.’