The fundraising event was organised by the charity Railway Children and sponsored by Southeastern. Volunteer singers from across the rail industry stopped shoppers and commuters in their tracks by bursting into song every 15 minutes during the afternoon rush hour.
The choral flash mob - led by music producer and the choir director of Britain’s Got Talent’s Missing People Choir, James Hawkins - performed a new arrangement of the classic, ‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers.
Clearly hitting the right notes, the volunteers managed to raise money from generous commuters Southeastern and employees.
Every year hundreds of thousands of vulnerable young people from across the UK run away, or are forced to leave their homes. Many take shelter in the public transport systems. Working alongside British Transport Police (BTP), Railway Children identify and provide protection for children with nowhere else to turn.
David Statham, Managing Director of Southeastern said: “We are delighted to support Railway Children. As a rail provider we have a duty to recognise vulnerable people, who might be using our stations for shelter. People often find it hard to believe that there are children in the UK sleeping rough, but we hope yesterday’s event has helped create a greater awareness of the issue.”
Katie Mason, Events Manager at Railway Children, said: “We’d like to thank the team at Southeastern, who have been involved from the very beginning, for their amazing support. Their backing will help highlight what we do and raise much-needed funds to help Railway Children make the UK’s railway stations safer places for vulnerable children.”
James Hawkins said, “There is simply no more powerful way to get an important message like this across than through music and singing. I’m delighted to have been able to help Southeastern and the Railway Children come together and help young people this Christmas. The song, although upbeat, is highly emotional, and couldn’t be a more appropriate Christmas message.”
ENDS
To view photos and passenger response to the fundraising activity please search the hashtag: #RCflashmob
