16-year-old launches charity single to support Bournemouth Women’s Refuge

The 16 year-old Bournemouth and Poole College student, Nicole Mcnally, has written ‘Annabelle’, a song about domestic abuse, and is releasing it as a single to raise money for the Bournemouth Women’s Refuge, which is run by local housing and support provider BCHA.

Nicole has been performing in public since she was 10, and over the past six years has taken part in hundreds of live music events, talent competitions, musical theatre productions and private gigs, performing at local venues as well as the Queens Theatre and Royal Albert Hall in London. Last year she was a featured artist on BBC Introducing Solent radio show.

The former Avonbourne college student said, “I was inspired to write the song after reading and discussing the topic during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. After playing the song a few times locally and seeing the reaction it received from several survivors, which promoted them to share their own experiences with me, I decided to release ‘Annabelle’ as a charity single and host the event. My aim is to raise much-needed funds and awareness to help others in this position. BCHA is local to me and has its own refuge, so I would love it if as many people as possible could support my event.”

Nicole has called on her local music contacts and persuaded 16 artists to perform for free and help raise more money for the refuge. Acts include Matt Black (piano man) Si Genaro from The Voice, Jonny Phillips, Kimari Raven, Matt Griffiths, Ant Lewis and Nicole McNally herself, plus many more.

Paul Tucker, campaigns and communications manager at BCHA said, “It takes a very exceptional and talented 16-year-old to not only write and release a single but also organise their very own charity gig. We are absolutely overwhelmed by Nicole’s passion and dedication to help BCHA continue to support women and children affected by domestic abuse and violence.”

Admission to the launch is by donation and copies of the single will be available to purchase – all profits will go directly to the Women’s Refuge.

Paul, added, “This promises to be a wonderful family friendly event with lots of fantastic music from a range of local artists. We would also like to thank Chaplin’s owner Harry Seccombe for letting us use his venue and his manager Geoff Popple for his help, not to mention all the artists for giving their precious time for free.”