Volunteering with LHFH

9 December 2009

"VERNON'S SONG' SINGER HELPS LIVERPOOL HOUSING CHARITY HIT THE RIGHT NOTE"

THE UK'S best known Big Issue seller and cult TV ‘star', Vernon Burgess, has been volunteering with a Liverpool housing charity to see how some of the profits from his Christmas single will be spent.

Vernon with LHFH

Vernon, himself once homeless, is the voice behind ‘Vernon's Song', a poignant view of the day to day struggle when living on the street. The song also expresses the love he has for his children and delivers a powerful message on behalf of homeless people everywhere.

Ten percent of the profits from Vernon's Song will go to Liverpool Habitat for Humanity, in Granby-Toxteth, a development of 32 homes designed to help low-income families on to the housing ladder.

Future home owners help build the properties themselves and Vernon donned a hard hat and steel-capped boots this week to muck in and help get one of the homes ready for Christmas. He said later: "I think it's a wonderful thing that helps get people somewhere to live, everyone was really friendly and I enjoyed the day out."

Available to download from iTunes and Amazon, the infectious chorus of Vernon's Song is provided by 2009 X Factor boot camp girl band Belle Sorelle and creates a haunting contrast against Vernon's honest verse.

Other charities that will share in 20% of the single's profits include St. Basils, a Birmingham based charity which aims to prevent youth homelessness by providing accommodation and support services; Bristol based Caring at Christmas, which provides a safe and welcoming shelter with food and support for the homeless of Bristol; and ThamesReach, in London, a charity which helps homeless people find homes, build relationships and lead fulfilling lives.

Remaining profits from 'Vernon's Song' will be split 50/50 between Vernon and the single's producer Tim Sherlock-Brown, of blu-jam, after Belle Sorelle artist royalty.

Birmingham-based Big Issue seller Vernon became a minor celebrity when he appeared on the BBC's ‘Skint' series. His ability to laugh and smile in the face of tremendous adversity has warmed many hearts over the years and modern episodes now feature Vernon solely.

Van Garber, executive director of Liverpool Habitat for Humanity, which helps low-income families in the city to help themselves on to the property ladder, said: "It was fantastic to meet Vernon at last and to be able to thank him personally for making us one of the beneficiaries of his record. This year's X Factor winner may be odds-on favourite with the bookies to have the Christmas number one single but we'd love to see Vernon get to the top of the charts instead."

Liverpool Habitat for Humanity is building houses off Kingsley Road. Future home owners spend 500 hours physically working on site - called ‘sweat equity' - in return for a £10,000 contribution to their deposit. They work alongside other volunteers, including individuals, community and faith groups and corporate team-builds to help build the homes.

You can download Vernon's Song for just 79 pence at: www.itunes.apple.com or www.amazon.co.uk; or join the Facebook group ‘Vernon's Song' for Christmas No. 1 at www.facebook.com.

For more about Liverpool Habitat for Humanity, including ways to support, volunteering or how to become a home owner, go to www.liverpoolhfh.org.uk.

To arrange an interview with Vernon contact tim@blu-jam.com

 / 07811 595 363.
For more on blu-jam go to www.blu-jam.com.

Caption:
1. Vernon Burgess lends a hand getting homes ready for Christmas at Liverpool Habitat for Humanity.

2. Vernon (centre) is pictured in Liverpool with local and national representatives of the housing charity, from left: Adrienne Carr, chair, Southwark Habitat for Humanity, Shannon Ledbetter, chair, Liverpool Habitat or Humanity, Van Garber, executive director LHFH and Ian Whitehead, treasurer, HFH Great Britain

Editor's notes:
Liverpool Habitat for Humanity is building 32 homes for partner families on just over two acres of land generously donated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese, on Kingsley Road, in Granby/Toxteth. The project has also received significant funding from NewHeartlands, the Housing Market Renewal Initiative (HMRI) on Merseyside.

To date, Habitat for Humanity International has built 300,000 homes and operates in 92 countries. The Granby/Toxteth site is the first such project in the Northwest and the largest in Britain at a cost of circa £1.9 million.

The Liverpool HFH model - including the distinct "sweat equity" component - enables families traditionally excluded from home ownership the opportunity to own an affordable home. LHFH is offering these affordable homes on a ‘shared equity' basis.

LHFH has a comprehensive procedure for selecting families. There are three main criteria for qualification: to have a strong connection with Liverpool (eg. live and /or work in the city); to be willing to partner with LHFH to put 500 hours of "sweat equity" into building on the project and to have an income between £10 - £20k. Applicants who live, work or have a strong connection with the Liverpool 8 postcode area will be preferred.

Issued for & on behalf of Liverpool Habitat for Humanity by Active PR. Press information from Linda Bright tel: 0771 002 0026 - email linda@activepr.co.uk. Ref: apr2009/liverpoolhfh/releases/vernonssong0812lb