Britain’s Got Talent finalists All Boys Aloud have made a plea for help to continue running their charity.
The choir from Wales finished in third place on the 2012 series of the ITV show after impressing with their memorable sound.
The group, whose ages ranged between 14 and 19, performed the Welsh hymn Calon Lân in their audition, which earnt them praise from the judges.
An emotional Amanda Holden expressed that she had a ‘lump in her throat’ after watching and Simon Cowell said: ‘I really loved what you did. I’ve never heard that song before but I absolutely love it. I think you guys are amazing.’
Founder Tim Rhys-Evans explained on the show that he’d set up the choir to ‘inspire them to sing and do something positive with their life’ as there are not many opportunities in The Valleys.
‘It’s a chance to get us off the streets,’ said one singer in the choir.
12 years later, The Aloud Charity, who also run choirs All Girls Aloud and All Kids Aloud, are asking for help.
‘We face an uncertain future and, for the first time ever, we are asking for your help,’ they wrote on Instagram.
‘We need you to donate now, and save The Aloud Charity. Together we can keep boys in Wales singing. Thank you.’
The organisation began in 2010, and since they have supported 6,500 young people. They are trying to raise £150,000 to ‘survive’.
A JustGiving page has been set with the amount as their target, and it’s currently sitting at just under £1500 after 48 supporters have donated.
The donations will help them to continue providing the free resource and ‘a safe space’.
‘We have years of experience and evidence to show that our activities build confidence, self-esteem, skills for future, open career pathways, and enhance mental wellness in young men,’ they wrote.
‘Aloud, like so many other arts charities, are struggling. The changing economic and funding climate has hit us hard. Despite the best efforts of a committed and knowledgeable team, we’ve been unable to raise the necessary funds this year for our vital work in communities across Wales.
‘As a result, we’ve had to make the heartbreaking decision to pause all our regular free activity for young people of secondary school age and reduce our dedicated team to half its size. In this pause, we are determined to regroup, refocus and remodel Aloud for long-term sustainability.’
Former members include Callum Scott Howells, who played Colin Morris-Jones in the Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin, and West End star Tom Hier, who appeared on I Can See Your Voice.
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