A RADCLIFFE charity is set to receive a major boost after being chosen by pop star Paul Heaton to benefit from a special Christmas gig.

The former Beautiful South and Housemartins frontman will headline the Hope for Christmas — a concert at Manchester Academy 2 on December 12th —along with co-singer Jacqui Abbot with whom he reunited this year to release the top three album 'What Have We Become'.

And the gig’s organisers, campaign group Hope not Hate, are encouraging the crowd to donate non-perishable foods and toiletries to support the work of Porch Boxes, and the Moss Side based foodbank, Compassion.

Trade unions who are supporting the concert , including ASLEF, the FBU and GMB, are also rallying their members to the cause.

Last year, Porch Boxes distributed nearly 5,000 food packs to vulnerable families and individuals across Bury via children’s centres, health centres, social services and other agencies.

Since it was founded in 2009, the charity has distributed around 40,000 emergency packs to vulnerable or abused people living in temporary housing or hostel accommodation, the homeless and older people who live in poverty.

Run entirely by volunteers and chaired by Julia Rowlands, headteacher of St Stephens CE Primary School in Bury, Porch Boxes has year has seen demand grow to record levels.

Paul said: “Christmas brings it all to a head doesn’t it?

"This project will hopefully help people who are homeless or have struggled throughout the year to have a good Christmas and look into January and think that maybe things can change. “

The singer has posted an article on his official website to promote the charity and is encouraging each of more than 800 people set to attend Hope for Christmas to bring along a donation of tinned or sealed packed foods and toiletries

Mrs Rowland, who admits to being a fan and will attend the concert, thanked Paul for his support, and said: “To fill our packs and support some of the most financially vulnerable people in our communities, Porch Boxes relies solely on the goodwill of individuals and organisations.

"Need is particularly acute at Christmas so we are really grateful to Paul not just for encouraging his fans to donate but for helping raise awareness of what we do.”

Porch Boxes is already set to receive an early Christmas present as one of the UK’s largest worker co-operatives, Halifax based, Suma Wholefoods, has pledged to donate a pallet of food for the two foodbanks to share.

This will mean the Radcliffe-based charity will soon receive 10 cases each of pasta, pasta sauce and soup — enough to feed more than 240 people.