Last year, The Swanage School choir worked with musician David Lapthorn and music producer Andy Stone to add their voices to a song written by Mr Lapthorn to mark CNN's Freedom Day, which takes place in March each year. Freedom Day sheds a spotlight on, and campaigns against, human slavery and the track has been dedicated to Unseen UK, a charity which works here in the UK to end modern day slavery and exploitation. It's a powerful, beautiful track; please have a listen: YouTube.
Mr Lapthorn said of the students involved: "They've been absolutely amazing, and I'm not just saying that. I expected that some of this would be quite difficult because they're obviously singing a song they've never heard before, and they've got these two strangers in front of them saying "do this, do that" - but they did it all first time. They had a lovely energy and they sang beautifully in tune. I was quite prepared for a few rough edges and things, but there weren't any. They were just fabulous."
Music Teacher Miss Stone explained that the students involved were already aware of the issue of slavery and human trafficking and that this understanding of what the song was for, and to have a connection to it, was really important.
Purbeck Coast Radio joined the recording and interviewed students Maddie, Libby and Amelia. They articulately expressed their feelings about modern day slavery and explained how keen they were to be involved in a project with such an important message. The song was "record of the week" on Purbeck Coast Radio and the interview with those involved featured on the Home Alone show on Thursday 25th March 2021. You can listen to the interview on the Purbeck Coast Radio website.