Watch the Car Park Karaoke mobile disco bringing a party to the doorstep during lockdown

Big-hearted volunteers have been lifting the spirits of people stuck at home in lockdown by bringing a party to their doorsteps.
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Josh Murphy of Absolute Discos and friend Brian Baines have visited scores of care homes around Hartlepool, Sunderland and Seaham over the last two weeks in a project called Car Park Karaoke.

They have been inundated with requests from homes and individuals wanting to take part in the feel-good activity.

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Josh and Brian turn up at each location and play music from a loudspeaker and lead sing-alongs to help cheer up residents of homes where they cannot receive visitors.

DJ Brian Baines of Car Park Karaoke in Glencairn Grove, Hartlepool.DJ Brian Baines of Car Park Karaoke in Glencairn Grove, Hartlepool.
DJ Brian Baines of Car Park Karaoke in Glencairn Grove, Hartlepool.

They have also been doing it for youngsters with disabilities and a few people celebrating big birthdays.

It comes as we are running our #actsofkindness campaign to highlight the amazing things people are doing to help others in their community.

Josh and Brian’s first performance was at Hartlepool’s Gretton Court when many residents could be seen dancing and waving their arms at the windows.

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Brian said: “It’s marvellous. People look out of their windows in houses all over the area and stop in the street.

Glencairn Grove resident Pat Bray celebrated 80th birthday with a visit from the guys of Car Park Karaoke and Miles for Men.Glencairn Grove resident Pat Bray celebrated 80th birthday with a visit from the guys of Car Park Karaoke and Miles for Men.
Glencairn Grove resident Pat Bray celebrated 80th birthday with a visit from the guys of Car Park Karaoke and Miles for Men.

“It’s really quite amazing. It cheers people up and lifts the spirits.”

On Friday, April 3, Brian paid a visit to Glencairn Grove on Owton Manor in Hartlepool for resident Pat Bray who was 80.

One resident said on Facebook: “Was fab haven’t been to a disco for years. Social distancing at its best.”

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Later he and helpers from Miles for Men, who have been helping to coordinate the visits, went to Leamington Parade for a girl’s 21st birthday.

Other residents joined in at Glencairn Grove.Other residents joined in at Glencairn Grove.
Other residents joined in at Glencairn Grove.

Brian, who runs a regular disco for people with special needs at Hartlepool Catholic Club, added: “We’ve been all over the place.

“We have done four or five care homes in Hartlepool with quite a few more to come.

“We did four care homes in the Sunderland area this week. We are getting so many requests and unfortunately we can’t say yes to all of them.”

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Charity founder Micky Day said: “The response has been absolutely fantastic.”

A Glencairn Grove resident emjoys the music from her doorstep.A Glencairn Grove resident emjoys the music from her doorstep.
A Glencairn Grove resident emjoys the music from her doorstep.

If you or someone you know has done something amazing to help, please get in touch with us on Facebook.

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