News
A woman who survived the Manchester Arena attack at the age of 13 and turned to singing to help her cope in the aftermath is now using her experience to help others.
Keen musician Alexis Wade, from Bury, went on to write a song about the attack which was featured on a podcast made to mark the four-year anniversary.
Now, aged 21, she gives singing lessons at the Radcliffe Girls and Boys Club in Greater Manchester.
Ms Wade said she hoped to help the young people use music to deal with their problems and worries.
Talking about the attack, Ms Wade said: “Coping through things was quite difficult back then because I was a teenager.
“I’d just lock myself in my room, not really speak to anybody and use music as a way to express how I was feeling.”
She continued: “Six or seven years down the line, I’m a lot more mature, my coping mechanism now is to speak to the people around me and I’m also trying to venture out, so my way of coping through music is now singing a happy song.
“I try my best to be as positive as possible in these lessons, some of the children do have bad days and they need to know that it is OK, we can figure out how they can use music to deal with their problems or any worries they are going through.”
Alexis Wade Music and Teaching is partially funded by the charity Liv’s Trust.
Liv’s Trust was set up by Sharon Goodman and her late husband Steve Goodman in memory of their granddaughter, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, who died in the arena terror attack.
It aims to help under 25s receive education in music and dance.
Ms Wade went to the same school as Olivia and later built a relationship with Mr and Mrs Goodman.
The charity has funded most of Ms Wade’s singing equipment and covered the costs of some of the children who attend her lessons.
Ms Wade said: “Sharon and Steve are like a second family, and I wouldn’t be near where I am today without their support.”
One of Ms Wade’s students, 11-year-old Penny-May said: “I think music can teach you of ways to deal with things or it can just make you feel in a good mood.
“Alexis makes me feel like I can sing better and that I’m not afraid anymore.”
Another student, Ryan, 13, said: “If someone is really sad and they put on a really nice song, they can feel better about themselves.”
He added: “Alexis is a really good teacher, she teaches us to never give up.”
Ms Wade said: “I used to be quite an anxious person and I am still a little bit anxious at times, however doing all of these things has really helped my confidence which I can try and teach my children.”