The first part of the story goes back to 2020 when a group of colleagues in our finance department began volunteering with the Kokni Muslim Association Birmingham (KMAB) to help feed the homeless and hungry in Birmingham.
A year on, we continue to be inspired by their ongoing efforts. “Homelessness and hunger impact people from all walks of life,” says Shaun Kennedy, Country President, Securitas UK, “The KMAB is one of several local charities we work with and last year we were delighted to donate £10,000 to support the efforts of Finance Manager Ashfak Ahem and his team of volunteers in providing hot meals to those most in need during the coldest months. This year, we were keen to do more.”
Putting the ‘sing’ into fundraising
And this is where the second part of this tale comes in. “The pandemic has made life harder for everyone, particularly for those of our colleagues who are key workers. So, this summer, we decided to bring some fun and entertainment to our collective lives by inviting any colleague who was interested to take part in our “Securitas Has Got Talent” competition,” Kennedy explains. “We were amazed by the response – there were so many wonderful entries.” Having seen the calibre of the musicians and vocalists in the competition, Kennedy began to wonder how this talent could be harnessed and used to do something to help our wider community. And – if you haven’t already guessed – this sparked the idea of recording a song to help raise money for charity.
Securitas commissioned a songwriter to write an inspirational and uplifting track and work with our 10-strong Securitas amateur ensemble to produce a professional result. The talented group, who included a pianist, two drummers, two rappers and several vocalists spent many hours over several weeks rehearsing in preparation for the studio recording session which took place at the end of November. The result is ‘Ascending’ (also known as the Securitas song for the homeless).
"Ascending – Song for the Homeless" - charity song by Securitas UK employees
We put both the ‘fun’ and the ‘sing’ into fundraising with a unique charity single to raise money to feed the homeless in Birmingham.
“I hope you enjoy listening to Ascending as much as we have enjoyed recording it,” says Kennedy, “I also hope that the song’s powerful message will encourage people to donate to our JustGiving page, through which we’re aiming to raise £12,000 to continue to help provide food and shelter to individuals and families who so desperately need this support. Thank you for any contribution you’re able to make, it all makes a difference”
To donate go to JustGiving page.
