Charlotte Church said she “couldn’t have been prouder” of a choir made up of young carers from Wales who she performed alongside at a charity gala.
Church joined Action for Children as a vocal coach for its 12-strong choir comprised of members aged between six and 19, ahead of the charity’s inaugural Starry Night gala on November 30 – which she also headlined.
The singer-songwriter first met the group earlier in the year, when they were invited to her wellness retreat, The Dreaming in the Elan Valley, where she informed them she would be coaching them.
“The choir has come a long way since the first time I met them in the summer – they’ve really grown in confidence,” Church said.
“To know that their lives can be so heavy but to see them on stage tonight with great big smiles on their faces, genuinely enjoying themselves was fantastic.
“I couldn’t have been prouder of them tonight!”
Stars including television personality Alison Hammond, television and radio presenter Kate Thornton, actor Larry Lamb and ex-Love Island winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan were also in attendance at the event at Battersea Arts Centre in London.
Thornton, who hosted the gala, added she did get “a little emotional at times”.
“As glitzy and exciting as events like this can be, it’s important not to lose sight of why we’re here and where the money raised goes,” she said.
“As a parent, you just want the best for your children but the cost of living is putting additional pressure on families who struggle to afford the basics, let alone the extra costs involved during the winter months.
“It’s great that there is help available through Action for Children, but they simply couldn’t do what they do without the generosity of their supporters and guests.”
Celebrities including documentarian and journalist Louis Theroux donated a signed book as an auction prize, while actress Emma Thompson donated a blanket.
The gala aimed to spread awareness for the charity’s Secret Santa campaign, which provides vulnerable children with warm clothes, a hot meal or a Christmas present.
More information about the campaign can be found on this link: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-us/secret-santa/donation-shop-test/
