Little Lever man aims for Christmas No. 1 to highlight cause

Tim Blackburn is 59 years old and a technician manager at the University of Salford, but he cannot find a place to live.

His wife, Kathryn, used to teach at Ladybridge but left her job to care full-time for her son, Paul Harrison, who has autism.

Tim and Kathyrn were evicted from their home in April.

They have been living with Paul in his one bedroom flat ever since.

Tim said: “I think people’s perception is that someone who is homeless is outside Tesco or Sainsbury’s with a dog and people giving them food or money.

“But it’s people like us who are in good jobs and maybe caring for somebody.

“If you walk past me in the street you wouldn’t know I’m sharing a one bedroom flat with my son and can’t find anywhere to live.”

Paul lives on his own thanks to a personal independence allowance, but still needs support from his parents.

Tim Blackburn, a technician manager and musician from Little Lever (Image: Legacy Media UK) Tim has struggled to find a suitable house because of their need to live close to Paul.

He said: “I don’t like him to stay on his own, because they were saying to move out of Little Lever but because our son is familiar with it, it’s better he lives down the road.”

After finding a place in Little Lever, the family was set to move in before being told that a flood in the flat above had made their flat “unliveable”.

Tim said: “Obviously, we have got a car and mobility – I can drive around and we can afford nice things.

“But we can’t afford 1300 pounds for a property, or because I’m the only earner they see it as a risk.

“Then we get a six month tenancy agreement – but we could be in the same situation six months later.”

The song, Always Home (At Christmas), was written and performed by Primal Live, a 18-artist music project.

He said: “A few people said, ‘well, wouldn’t it be good to do a song for Christmas?

“Everybody got together to get some lyrics and all worked together to come up with this song.

“I didn’t get down for the writing, but I’m involved in singing in the chorus and the backing vocals.

“It was released last week, and it’s just appeared on the Official Chart Company saying it’s been chosen as a contender for Christmas number 1.”

Tim says that even though the song might not hit number one, he hopes it will raise awareness of his situation.

He said: “I don’t know [if it will hit number one], because there’s always famous people like Bruno Mars and KSI – and Band Aid 40, so I don’t know.

“It’s just raising awareness and hoping people download and stream it.

“My stepson even said, and he has no problem speaking his mind, he said, ‘it’s really catchy that, it’s a really catchy song – I can hear you going ooh ooh in the background.’”

The single is raising money for the Whitechapel Centre in Liverpool, a charity that helps homeless people.

Tim performing at a Primal Live gig in Liverpool (Image: Legacy Media UK) Primal Live has already raised £8,000 for the charity from their shows leading up to the single’s release.

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The family is facing the possibility of another eviction, as Paul's landlord wants his flat back too.

Tim said: “Now his flat has been given notice, because the bloke wants his flat back for his mother.

“There are lots of people out there in the same situation.

“We aren’t blaming the council but just trying to get through to someone – trying to get some help, there are so many of us.

“I’ve been through case studies and local studies and it’s happening up and down the country.

“If someone like me has a good job, has the persistence to find these things, some poor so and so who doesn’t have access to the internet – how are they going to cope?”