A teenage songwriter from Bournemouth is releasing a single to raise money for a women’s refuge run by the Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA).
Nicole McNally, a student at Bournemouth and Poole College, said she was “inspired to write ‘Annabelle’ which is about a girl who is fleeing domestic abuse, after learning about it at school last year”.
McNally, who has been singing and performing since the age of 10, hopes to use her talents to help her local charity raise awareness and much needed funds.
BCHA provide a number of services relating to domestic abuse, including a 24-hour helpline, throughout Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset with the aim of helping people leave an abusive situation.
Their refuges are safe houses for victims of abuse and their children, and provide full access to 24-hour support. They are located across Bournemouth and Poole.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 1 in 10 of all crimes reported are domestic abuse-related, with 14,500 incidents in Dorset last year.
No stranger to the stage, McNally has performed in several venues over Bournemouth including The Pavilion and is a vocalist for the Swing Unlimited Community Big Band.
She will be performing the single live at her launch event at Chaplins & The Cellar Bar on 14th October, she said: “hopefully it will be very successful, we have performances from 16 local artists as well as a raffle with prizes donated from local businesses”.
The single will be available to buy on the day and admission to the event is by donation with all profits going to the women’s refuge.
For more information on domestic abuse support services available from BCHA call their 24-hour helpline: 01202 547755.
