After a host of homegrown stars rocked Belfast’s Europa Hotel last weekend, it has been confirmed the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Independent’s concert has raised £10,000 for Simon Community Northern Ireland.
The gig saw local heroes like Brian Kennedy and Dea Matrona performing to raise much-needed cash for the rough sleeping charity.
Others who delighted the 400-strong crowd included Northern Irish artists Odhran Murphy, Gareth Dunlop, Eddie Booth and Commitments star Andrew Strong.
Headline act Kennedy said: “No one chooses to be homeless and we put the fundraising concert together to raise much needed funds and awareness."
The show was vital in highlighting the growing problem of homelessness amid the cost of living crisis according to Simon Community chief executive Jim Dennison.
He said: “In our 50th year we are seeing levels of homelessness increase as the cost of living pushes everyday people to make disturbing choices between heating their homes or feeding their families.
“Now more than ever we need to raise greater awareness on the issues of homelessness, poverty, and their related health consequences.
“By partnering with Music Against Homelessness we wanted to give a voice to the people homelessness affects, put a spotlight on those who work tirelessly in the sector to bring about change and highlight our charity’s impact in ending homelessness.
“One project that the money raised will help support is our Creating Homes initiative that will see our charity purchase and manage 50 properties for clients ready to live independently.”
To read the full Belfast Telegraph article click here.