Feelgood festive song project showcases the joy of Christmas

THE spirit of Christmas has been captured in a catchy feel-good song created by young people from different backgrounds at two educational establishments.

Autistic young people with complex needs at Berkshire-based charity Prior’s Court and students from AGS House, one of the boarding houses at nearby Downe House School, have worked together to produce a Christmas song called ‘Christmas Joy’.

The young people at the two Hermitage-based organisations have been working on Christmas Joy since October and the song went live online yesterday.

Young people at Prior’s Court and AGS House were challenged to come up with lyrics that encapsulate what Christmas means to them. The autistic young people with complex needs were supported in class sessions through the use of photos, videos and sensory items to choose what themes they wanted to include.

Tomson Chauke, an Autism Practitioner at Prior’s Court who led the project, worked with Michael Liggins from Downe House School to produce a festive feeling melody with support from musician Knowledge Nkoma in Tomson’s native Zimbabwe.

After plenty of rehearsal, separate recording sessions of lyrics and musical tracks with Reading-based musician Pete Doyle took place.

Finally, on Wednesday, 4 December, AGS House students visited Prior’s Court to meet the autism charity’s young people involved in the project, put up Christmas decorations and sing Christmas Joy together.

Prior’s Court is working with AGS House in 2024/25 in a partnership that provides benefits to young people at both organisations, supporting them in broadening their horizons.

Tomson said:

“The partnership between Prior’s Court and AGS House is all about inspiring young people on both sides, providing them with new opportunities and raising awareness of autism and complex needs.

“Christmas is a time of togetherness and this was so clear on December 4 when the two groups of young people met and spent time together – it was a truly magical experience for all involved.

“I’m so proud of what all of the young people involved have created and I’m confident singing Christmas Joy will become a regular part of festive life at Prior’s Court.”

Izzy and Maya from AGS House, both soloists on the recording, said:

“It was a completely new experience for us to work on a collaborative song like this. Everyone from Prior’s Court was really welcoming and it was fun for everyone involved to get together.”

Prior’s Court has a 2024 Christmas Appeal ongoing. Donations to the festive fundraiser go to the charity’s Fun and Recreation Appeal which brings incredible experiences and opportunities to the autistic young people we support. The 2024 Christmas Appeal is specifically about supporting events in the 2025 festive period.

For more about the appeal, please visit: www.priorscourt.org.uk/christmas.