A host of top artists have helped created a silent Christmas song which highlights the struggle many children face this festive season
Famous voices and musicians have collaborated on a Christmas song with a difference - the first silent Christmas track.
Vocal artists including; Royal Blood, The Amazons, ELIZA, HRVY, KT Tunstall, Martin Kemp, Leah Weller, Freddie Long and Joanna Forest have given their silence for a track for The Children’s Society, so that voices of children living in challenging circumstances can be heard.
The idea for The Silent Choir and track was created and delivered within a few weeks, with a host of partners and artists giving up their time and resource to make this happen so quickly.
While other festive soundtracks share the joy of family, love and presents, the silent track highlights the stark reality for thousands of children, suffering in silence, who will be experiencing abuse and neglect this Christmas. The track can be streamed on Spotify and listeners will be able to donate through The Children’s Society’s website.
The soundtrack follows the appearance of The Children’s Society Silent Choir which only performed when members of the public offered their donations.
Figures from The Children’s Society reveal that this Christmas over 6,000 children will attempt to run away from home, with 46,000 finding themselves at risk of both physical and emotional neglect and abuse. A further half a million children will experience troubling mental health problems but have no one to turn to for help.
Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “Christmas is a time for family, love, light, and music. Yet, for so many children around the UK, it is none of these things. Instead it is a reminder of how different their lives are from those around them. For them, Christmas is broken.
“The silent track is a much-needed reminder that so many children are deprived not only of the Christmas spirit but of a voice each and every day. Alongside the artists who have given their silence to show their solidarity, we believe that we can give a voice to the children who need us the most, this Christmas and beyond.”
