Portsmouth female choir record song across 42 homes in the city in aid of domestic abuse charity

The Cantando Female Voice Community Choir have carried on singing together through social media and the 42 Portsmouth women decided to use their voices to help women, men and children needing support and help with domestic abuse.

Choir director and mother-of-two Rebecca Robertson said: ‘We are like a family and it has really helped us all to have that support network during lockdown and I wanted to help others. As a single mother to have their support means so much.

‘Domestic abuse is an important topic for me and so I wanted to raise money for a local charity that helps women and others who don’t have support network and need help.

‘After speaking to one of the members, we decided to fundraise for Aurora New Dawn who do amazing work.’

Rebecca set about organising each member to record their part of Something Inside So Strong before putting it all together with a video.

The 37-year-old, who started the choir in 2012, said: ‘ I think the lyrics are so poignant and I am so proud of how it turned out. We have already raised so much money and I am overwhelmed with the support.’

Domestic abuse charities have experienced a higher demand for support since lockdown was implemented.

Chief executive of Aurora New Dawn, Shonagh Dillon, said: ‘We are so touched and thankful that the choir chose to record this song for victims using the helpline.

The song and the choir’s recording of it is really moving and really raises the profile of the many victims and children facing violence and abuse whilst in lockdown with perpetrators.

‘At Aurora we are used to responding to victims in crisis but the global pandemic of Covid-19 has really raised the profile of domestic abuse and we are seeing unprecedented numbers of survivors coming forward for support, so every penny raised enables us to respond to them in their time of need.’

To donate visit gofundme.com/f/singing-Against-domestic-violence