Music lovers can help support the work of Derry Hill-based charity Kandu Arts if they buy Melanie C's new single when it is released next week.

Spice girl Melanie Chisholm is donating all the profits from If That Were Me, which will be released on Monday, to Kandu's latest homelessness project No Place Home.

Earlier this month Melanie gave away 50 free tickets for north Wiltshire teenagers to attend her Wembley gig, where they collected more than £700 in donations from gig-goers.

On Saturday she is due to perform a concert at London's Astoria, with all profits also going to the charity.

Kandu director Ed Deedigan, who is a friend of Melanie's after meeting her at a party in London, said he and fellow workers are delighted with the pop star's generosity.

He believes having such a high-profile person backing the project will help raise awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness and social exclusion.

He said: "It's a great song and I am sure it will be a big success."

Kandu will be co-ordinating a project in 12 cities across the country. It will work with homeless youngsters, helping them to convey their plight to local authorities through dance and drama.

Virgin, Melanie's record company, has already donated more than £20,000 to the project in lieu of payment to artists working on the promotional video for the single.

Mel told her Wembley concert earlier this month: "This is a very good cause and one that is close to me.''