A DOWNEND man has written a Christmas song to help save a community project running free accessible concerts and events.
Dominic Carey had the idea after Music Train, which has held more than 60 events at Christ Church over the past four years, lost its council funding after 12 years.
Dom, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, takes part in Music Train sessions, where he often sings.
Music train is a community-based organisation that runs live accessible daytime concerts for people with disabilities across South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath.
Dom said: “Anyone can come and join in.
“A lot of people don’t have the support in the evening so they can’t come to live music or concerts in the pub, and also a lot of pubs are quite old buildings and aren’t accessible and don’t have disabled toilets, which makes it a bit harder to visit them.
“If you go to a Music Train event you know it’s going to be safe and accessible.”
Music Train founder Liz Gray set up the project in 2013 when her son’s carers were unable to find any live music during the day.
It was originally based at Avon Valley Railway – hence the name – but now runs around 164 events a year in 18 different venues.
In 2024-45 South Gloucestershire Council gave the group £19,000 in funding towards its estimated £50,000-a-year costs, but ended all financial support in March.
It has been surviving with support from Staple Hill-based charity Milestones Trust and individual donations, having had several funding bids, including to the National Lottery, turned down.
Music Train will have a new base at disability charity Paul’s Place in Yate in the New Year, with continued support from Milestones Trust, but needs to raise around £10,000 to keep going until any funding that Paul’s Place can secure is available in the next financial year.
When he heard that Music Train might have to stop running, Dom said: “I said ‘no way!’ We can’t let that happen.
“The Music Train has given me so much. I wanted to do something to give back.”
Dom decided to write a Christmas song to raise money and worked with Benny Hayes, a professional musician who works with Music Train and grew up in Downend, to create ‘Time To Celebrate (We’ve Made It Through Another Year)’.
Dom said: “Benny said ‘you come up with the lyrics and send them to me, and I’ll put music to them’.
“I wrote it in about half an hour, because I’ve got a bad memory if I don’t do things right away!
“I wrote it on iPhone notes and sent it to Ben.”
Benny recorded the song and Music Train filmed a video, which can be seen on YouTube at tinyurl.com/36re22pc.
The song can also be downloaded at Benny’s Bandcamp page, bennyjhayes.bandcamp.com, with proceeds going to the fund to save Music Train.
A donation page has been set up at justgiving.com/page/domssong.
Liz said: “Events at Christ Church alone will cost £4,500 for 20 events this year, so any contributions that we receive will be gratefully received.
“As a result of its popularity, demand for the Music Train has increased and we would love to host additional events to cater for this.
“It relies entirely on grants and donations to make it happen.
“As we hold so many events, we ask for voluntary donations. However, we don’t want an entrance fee that could inhibit anyone from coming, particularly the people who may need it most.”