Preston disability charity Skiggle has partnered with trained opera singers to offer personalised ‘sing while you shield’ performances in return for a small donation to the charity. 

The fundraising initiative was inspired by Skiggle co-founder and Charity Development Manager Helen Taylor after seeing the positive impact music and performance has on people with disabilities.

In addition to running the charity, Helen cares for 17-year old Will who is profoundly disabled and requires round the clock care. Born with a brain injury, Will has now been shielding with his mum and close-knit team of carers for over six months.  

Read more: Preston disability charity calls for a halt to essentials being taken away from the vulnerable during coronavirus crisis

Helen’s cousin Aidan, a trained baritone, and his fiancée Juliet, a trained soprano, were only too willing to help with the idea.

To kick-start the fundraiser, Juliet performed a special piano-accompanied version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah for Will.

Helen said: “We play it over and over on repeat for Will and he loves it.

“If he’s stressed, it helps him relax and you see his whole face light up.

“It really is a beautiful idea to offer this to children and others who have been isolated for months, and we’re over the moon that Juliet and Aidan have agreed to support Skiggle by performing them for us.”

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The charity has worked with the professional singers to create a special songbook, which features everything from classical tunes to Disney favourites and current chart hits. 

Helen said: “Disability or not, music is such a huge part of everyone’s world and we’ve seen first-hand how it can brighten someone’s day.

“With the arts and entertainment industry really struggling at the moment, we felt this was a great way to shine a positive light on the industry whilst at the same time, giving something back to people in isolation.

“We really hope people will engage with this fundraiser and help benefit those who need it most.”

Skiggle was founded in 2016 and became a registered charity in 2019. The charity provides a unique service of operating an emergency SOS system and facilitating an online marketplace where people across the UK can urgently access specialist disability equipment, care consumables, and other products.  

To find out more about ‘Sing While You Shield’ and receive your very own performance, visit the Sing While You Shield JustGiving page.

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What song would you want performing for you? Let us know in the comments below