Bieber is no stranger to chart-topping singles, but the British healthcare choir unexpectedly had one of its own when “A Bridge Over You” landed the coveted Christmas number one spot on the official U.K. chart in 2015. The song was given a boost when Bieber tweeted “so for 1 week it's ok not to be #1. Let's do the right thing & help them win. It's Christmas. @Choir_NHS good luck” to his millions of followers on Dec. 23 of that year.
The choir and the Stratford, Ont. native collaborated much more closely this year on Bieber’s “Holy” single, which features the voices of 19 health professionals and will be released through all digital musical outlets on Dec. 18.
Every purchase will help fund projects and initiatives that sit outside normal NHS (National Health Service) funding provisions, including additional staff support, which is very important in today’s challenging COVID-19 climate.
NHS Charities Together provides a forum for: fundraising and advocacy campaigns; specialist advice and guidance; bespoke conferences and training opportunities; access to online resources; and support through exclusive member pages on its website. It also provides the collective voice of NHS charities on a national scale.
There are more than 240 NHS charities across the U.K. that collectively give £1 million (C$1.71 million) every day to the NHS. NHS charities have funded major capital projects for research, medical equipment and helping patients access the best possible care when they need it most.
These charities also play a key role in mobilizing volunteers to support NHS staff, mental health trusts, community health trusts and ambulance trusts.
One of these NHS charities is The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Charity, which funds projects and initiatives that enhance care and improve patient, visitor and staff experiences.
These include: well-being hubs, and dedicated emotional support, for frontline staff; purchasing new toys and providing warm clothes for children and older patients having to spend Christmas in the hospital; and providing new equipment, furniture and facilities to improve patient experiences.
The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir was first seen on the BBC2 television show, The Choir: Sing While You Work, where it lost in the final. Support from the show led to the release of “A Bridge Over You,” from which all of the profits went to Mind, Carers UK and smaller charities chosen by the choir.
Mind provides advice and support to empower people experiencing mental health problems. It campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Carers UK began in the 1960s and is the country’s only national membership charity for carers, which it defines as people who support a loved one who’s older, disabled or seriously ill. It offers them expert advice, information and support.
The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir released its debut album, Something Inside So Strong, in June 2016. It has since performed at community and NHS events as well as the Glastonbury Festival, the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, Christmas with the Stars at Royal Albert Hall and a Stand Up To Cancer event.
Stand Up To Cancer was created in 2008 to accelerate research for new therapies that could possibly help people diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors. It creates awareness and educates the public on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment while raising funds to support these efforts.