THE co-founder of a choir made up of families of missing people has been appointed as the head of a music charity.

Clare Cook's Missing People Choir were finalists in Britain’s Got Talent in 2017 and she will now take on a new position as CEO of national music charity Soundabout, based in Didcot.

The choir, which was hailed by the show's judge Simon Cowell as ‘a brilliant idea', was founded while Ms Cook was deputy director of the charity Missing People with the help of musical director James Hawkins.

It is made up of people with missing loved ones, alongside staff and supporters of the charity, and is intended to bring families together and use music to help express emotions and spread a message of 'hope'.

Their performance of the song 'I Miss You' during their Britain's Got Talent audition and subsequent run to the final of the competition is credited with 'hugely' increasing public awareness of and support for those living in limbo after a disappearance.

Ms Cook, an alumna of the Cherwell School who will now move back to Oxford to take up the new position, said she was 'very proud' to be joining Soundabout.

She said her experience of working with the choir demonstrated the power of music to help people who may otherwise have difficulty expressing their feelings to open up and share their emotions.

She was attracted to the new role as a chance to give voice to people with complex learning difficulties.

The charity is based at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot and aims to 'unlock' the potential of people with severe and profound learning difficulties by helping them to use music to communicate and interact with the world.

Set up in 1997 in Oxford, the organisation now runs a UK-wide training programme as well as community music sessions with a range of organisations such as schools and festivals, encouraging participants to try making music in a relaxed environment.

Ms Cook, who has previously worked for Christian Aid and Child Bereavement UK said and also helped to put together a compilation album featuring various 'choirs with purpose', said: “Music is such a powerful way to communicate and express emotions.

"I’m very proud to be joining the wonderful team at Soundabout whose innovative work makes such a difference to the lives of those who struggle to be heard."

Adam Ockelford, chair of trustees at Soundabout who is Professor of Music at Roehampton University said, “We are thrilled that Clare has joined us, and look forward to Soundabout going from strength to strength under her leadership”.

To find out more about Soundabout visit www.soundabout.org.uk.