A school choir that uses sign language to perform has received support from one of the bands that inspired them.
Dane Ghyll Community School first set up their British Sign Language choir in September last year as a new extra curricular group for students to get involved with.
Read more: Barrow school promotes use of BSL with 'signing choir' | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)
This came after the school made a change to its curriculum, replacing French with BSL lessons.
The choir, along with pupils in Year Four, were videoed performing songs from The Lottery Winners' catalogue, who have now picked up on the tributes.
The band, originating from Leigh in Greater Manchester, was formed back in 2008 and consists of members Thom Rylance, Robert Lally, Katie Lloyd, and Joe Singleton.
Sending a message to the choir, Thom said: "We've seen your videos, we've seen what you're doing, we really appreciate it.
"Thank you so much for performing 'Letter to Myself', that means the world to me because I wrote it.
"I wrote it just for that and if it's reaching people like you, then that means more to me than anything."
The Lottery Winners on their latest album, Anxiety Replacement Therapy (Image: PA)
The band also promised to come and visit the school soon so that they can show their support in person.
The choir had its first performance at the Meeting Place in Barrow on December 11 and are growing to be a favourite at public events.
The group works by accompanying a backing track - without vocals - and then signing the words that would normally be heard.
The school currently has a handful of children with hearing difficulties and was inspired by the Right to Sign Campaign to alter its curriculum which then went on to inspire the choir.
In 2017, the campaign's Young People’s Advisory Board called for a BSL GCSE and after years of battling, this will be an official option for students from 2025.
The hope is that groups such as the choir can bring BSL further into the public, encouraging more people than ever to learn the language.
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