A PASSION for singing has led a Rugby mum to record a charity song with her children.
Catherine Kodagoda always had an ambition to make a professional recording of a song and dedicate it to her children.
The idea grew, and she ended up recording her version of At Your Side by The Corrs with her children Amy, 7 and David, 6 – all to raise money for national anti-bullying charity Kidscape.
Clinical psychologist Catherine said they had great fun recording the single and making the accompanying video.
She said: “They loved it. To bring children into a recording studio is very exciting.
“David loves anything with buttons and lights, so he was in his element. He had fun with the sound engineer. Amy, who does a solo on the track, also really enjoyed the experience too.”
The cover of Catherine, Amy and David’s version of At Your Side.
Catherine, who was a semi-finalist in Rugby’s Got Talent earlier this year, said the kids had become quite the celebrities at their respective schools, Dunchurch Junior and Dunchurch Infants School.
“It’s quite magical for them,” she said. “To see them sharing what they did with their classmates has been a wonderful experience. They’re loving it.
“David’s teacher played the single to his class, and afterwards they swarmed him asking lots of questions. He was a bit of a celebrity for the day.
“My husband Chris also has a fun little cameo acting as the sound engineer in the video. He’s not a singer himself so that was our way of involving him.”
She chose Kidscape having been bullied at school, and says one of her greatest fears is for her children to be victims of bullying.
“The experience has stayed with me all of my life, and to this day fills me with anxiety when I remember it.
“As a clinical psychologist, I have become acutely aware of the devastating impact of bullying, as I see increasing numbers of children and adolescents experiencing mental health problems as a result.
“So from a professional and personal point of view, supporting victims of bullying is something I feel passionately about.
“We chose the song At Your Side because the words seemed very appropriate for us to sing to each other as a family – but also as a message to children to treat each other with respect and care and to be there to support one another.”
Kidscape has promoted the single on their website, and is going to feature it during national Anti-Bullying Week in November.
The charity’s chief executive Lauren Seager-Smith said: “We hope this song will give hope to any children who are struggling with bullying.
“It can feel like a very lonely place, but please know that there are people that care, and you will get through this. Kidscape are here to help.”
Visit www.kidscape.org.uk for more information on the charity.
The single is available to buy on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Music. All proceeds go to Kidscape.
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Kodagoda-Family to donate to the family’s fund-raising appeal.
