The Mop Heads
Charity songs for SHINE
Written and performed by our two of our talented staff
Where hope began
Two members of staff at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth have recorded charity singles which have raised funds for an NHS charity. The first song, which is called ‘Where Hope Begins’ was inspired by the end of the Covid pandemic which had a huge impact on the pair and the people they work alongside in the NHS. The theme of the song is about the return of hope and the charity supports people receiving NHS care and provides vital extras to support their treatment and recovery.
The musical duo work as cleaners at St Nicholas Hospital and the idea for the song came about in the midst of the pandemic during socially distanced breaktime chats. Peter Prest, who has been working at the hospital for 26 years writes the lyrics and Paul Hewitson, with almost a decade on the same site, writes the music itself.
The idea snowballed and before long their first song was not only written but had been recorded in Paul’s home studio. They then decided it needed a music video and worked with colleagues from NTW Solutions, their employer, and staff from Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), who operate clinical services at St Nicholas Hospital to appear in the music video. The video features staff holding up cards with their memories of the pandemic and what their experiences were of going through that time.
The first song was launched with live performances at the hospital with a number of CDs for sale and the video is available to watch online. People are encouraged to buy the CD or If they watch the video to donate to charity via the website.
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Meet the stars
Meet Peter Prest
“I have always been interested in music and I suppose like a lot of people in the pandemic you think about things a lot and I just knew it was something I wanted to do. Paul and I talk about music all the time and as soon as I said what I was thinking it all just fell into place.
“I knew I wanted the song to be about hope and then the link to SHINE just seemed right as the charity brings hope to people who use the services at St Nicholas Hospital. We’ve had so much support from people and it was only right that we wanted people to feature in the video. It’s been huge fun but hopefully it can make a difference too.”
Meet Paul Hewitson
“I used to get wrong at school for humming and music is my passion. When I’m cleaning, I am almost always singing or humming, although to the relief of the patients and ward staff that’s largely drowned out by the hoover. In fact I even hear melodies in the noises my floor polisher makes and they stick in my head until I can jot them down.
“I play in an Iron Maiden tribute band and music has taken me all over the world to perform but this experience has been so special. It has brought people together and done what we wanted to which is to bring some joy and hope and it’s created a real buzz around the hospital and with this launch we can share that even more widely.”
Where Hope Begins
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Find out more about SHINE
Our charitable funds (UK registered charity: 1165788) make a huge difference to the experience of service users who are cared for at CNTW hospital sites and community services across the North East and Cumbria.
Donate now
Charitable donations can provide the support for the extra things that would not be possible from the funding we receive from central government alone. Please donate to help support people’s treatment and recovery
Go behind the scenes
Step into the cleaning cupboard
To find out more about the song Where Hope Begins and the talented pair who created it
Media coverage
Watch and read media coverage
Radio Tyneside Interview
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Thank You
NTW Solutions provide a wide range of important services to their partners, from estates and facilities operations to business support services. They were established in 2017 by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and all profits are returned to the NHS to support patient care.
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) is one of the largest mental health and disability trusts in England. They provide mental health, learning disability and neurological care for people across the north of England as well as some national specialist services.
SHINE is a charitable fund of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (UK registered charity: 1165788) and makes a huge difference to the experience of service users who are cared for at CNTW hospital sites and community services across the North East and Cumbria. Charitable donations can provide the support for the extra things that would not be possible from the funding we receive from central government alone.
Please donate now
If you have enjoyed the song and the story behind it
SHINE – UK registered charity: 1165788
