The Brick Song
Turning homelessness from something ignored into something heard.
THE STORY
“A town singing about what it usually walks past”
WHAT HAPPENED
Homelessness is often invisible. People walk past. Eyes drop. Stories go unheard.
The Brick Song changes that.
Written by Pianos, Pies and Pirouettes founder Alan Gregory, this is not just a song — it is a whole-town recording project bringing together schools, churches, artists and community groups across Wigan.
At its heart is a simple but powerful idea: if people won't listen to individuals, they might listen to a collective voice.
The lyrics confront uncomfortable truths — challenging myths about homelessness, highlighting mental health, trauma and systemic failure, and reminding listeners how easily lives can change.
But the project doesn't stop at awareness. It brings together cross-denominational communities, engages young people alongside established artists, centres activity in areas often defined by deprivation, and creates a lasting digital release with proceeds supporting frontline services.
Supported by The Brick charity, the project aligns creativity with action — raising both understanding and tangible support.
This is PPP at its most powerful: not just telling stories, but shifting how a town sees its most vulnerable people.
“Please don't look right through me…”
WHY IT MATTERS
This is bigger than a performance.
Culture used as a tool for social justice — collective voice doing what individual voices sometimes cannot.
IMPACT
- Raising awareness of homelessness through culture
- Cross-community collaboration (faith, schools, arts)
- Linking creativity to real-world social impact
- Challenging stigma and public perception
OUR WORK
Seven projects. One connected story.
Swipe or use the arrows to browse — same carousel as the homepage.
Beyond Wigan Pier
When a town stopped being written about and started writing back.
Wigan Warriors × Royal Ballet
Redefining what boys are allowed to be.
HAF Programme
Three sites. Hundreds of children. One purpose.
The Story Behind PPP
From one piano to a whole community.
Pods of Sunshine
Not just telling stories — owning them.
The Brick Song
A town singing about what it usually walks past.
ITV Granada Reports
Regional television documenting community arts, young voices and Wigan’s story.
Want to support work like this?
PPP is actively seeking funding partners who believe in what culture can do for communities. Get in touch.