Lancashire singing star raises thousands for charity - from the comfort of his own home

A Lancashire singing star has been raising money for charity from an unusual stage – his own home.
By Phil Cunnington
Published 28th Apr 2020, 17:00 BST
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Wet Wet Wet’s Kevin Simm has raised more than £1,500 with an online fund-raising gig in aid of Childline.

Kevin should have been on tour in Australia with Love Is All Around chart-toppers Wet Wet Wet right now, but instead every Friday has been hosting online gigs, singing from his home in Chorley for fans in lockdown.

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Last Friday, Aptil 24, Kevin dedicated his show to Childline, raising a whopping £1,583 that is enough to answer 395 calls to Childline.

Former Liberty X singer, now the frontman of 80s pop band Wet Wet Wet, Kevin Simm has raised hundreds of pounds for Childline through a remote concert at his Chorley home during the coronavirus lockdownFormer Liberty X singer, now the frontman of 80s pop band Wet Wet Wet, Kevin Simm has raised hundreds of pounds for Childline through a remote concert at his Chorley home during the coronavirus lockdown
Former Liberty X singer, now the frontman of 80s pop band Wet Wet Wet, Kevin Simm has raised hundreds of pounds for Childline through a remote concert at his Chorley home during the coronavirus lockdown

Kevin, who also won the Voice UK back in 2016, said: “I am so pleased and I can’t thank enough everyone who donated, for their generous support for such a worthwhile cause. I have long supported Childline, especially since becoming a father myself and can remember many years ago as a kid going to pick my mum up from when she used to work at Childline, singing along to Motown with her on the journey home.

“I had wanted to run the Manchester Marathon but with the current health crisis that has obviously had to be rearranged. But I still wanted to do something now for Childline, and to be able to support such a worthy cause with my Friday gigs, is just terrific. Thank you on behalf of all the children out there whose only escape once was going to school but now have nowhere to turn.”

Childline has experienced a tough time during the coronavirus lockdown, closing the night service for the first time and seeing a 30 per cent drop in volunteer hours, due to counsellors having to self-isolate, so Kevin’s fund-raising could not have come at a better time.

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The NSPCC, which runs Childline, grows increasingly concerned about the number of children who will experience abuse or neglect due to the impact of Coronavirus, with families struggling with lockdown, job losses and school closures.

Rachel Walker, the NSPCC Events and Participation Manager said “What an incredible amount of money to raise, well done to Kevin and all his fans who donated. Sadly, we know that for many children, home isn’t a safe place and they need our Childline counsellors more than ever. This is the greatest challenge we’ve faced in decades and we are calling on the support of the public to help us ensure we can still be here for children.”

There is still time to donate, please visit Kevin’s Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/Kevsupportschildline2020

Related topics:LancashireWet Wet WetNSPCCAustraliaChorley