British Christian Actor Launches His Own Charity for Young People

British Christian Actor Launches His Own Charity for Young People

By Dan Wooding, Founder of the ASSIST News Service

PORT SUNLIGHT, UK (ANS – Jan. 18, 2016) – British Christian actor, Christopher Power, who lives in Port-Sunlight located in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England, has now set up his own charity, with his wife Pauline, called The Power Foundation for Young People.

As a small child, Christopher, who was born in Birkenhead, across the River Mersey from Liverpool, says he found it difficult at school after being diagnosed with hyperactivity, speech problems and lack of co-ordination.

“I remember how frustrated I would get, when I was asked to write down answers to the teacher’s questions”, he said.

Christopher grew up on a council estate in the 1980′s and left school without any qualifications. His mum and dad were involved with entertainment and would travel around with a drummer and pianist.

“My mum would sing country and western songs, and I have fond memories of her singing Blanket on the Ground by Billy Jo Spears. My dad would be dressed in a compere suit, which consisted of black trousers and jacket with a white shirt and bow tie, he would also sing”

Christopher became a Christian in 1986 and decided to return to education and attended a performing arts college. It was here that he had a chance introduction to acting that would once again turn his life on its head, this time for the better.

“I met a gentleman called Ron who was in the second year and doing some Shakespeare. He asked me to help him out with his lines. Ron had a great voice and within me was a desire to be like him”.

Ron took Christopher under his wings and together, they work on developing Christopher’s skills, including his voice and reading.

"When I was 19 years old, I was offered a job at Butlins [a chain of large holiday camps in the United Kingdom. which was founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families) as a famous Red Coat. I remember working long hours at The Grand Hotel in Scarborough, but only lasted for three days. I was home sick and so I returned home".

In 1996, Christopher won a place a Richmond Drama School, and was awarded for his shear hard work, an Oxford Diploma for acting. He also took a short course at RADA. Since leaving, drama school, Christopher has had the opportunity to appear in TV soaps such as Coronation Street, Brookside, and Hollyoak’s, Shakespeare plays, as well as roles for BBC, ITV and channel 4. Over the last few years, he has been in an award winning film, For Loves Sake, playing Colin Jarvis, Mark Anthony in Caesar, and a lead role in an up and coming film called Free To Be.

Last year Christopher and his wife Pauline launched their charity called The Power Foundation for Young People

“I had unfortunate beginning in life, with being diagnosed with speech problems, lack of coordination and hyperactivity, which affected my education. However, I had the support of various people when I was a teenager and it was this support that enabled me to pursue my ambition which was to be an actor. I now want other young people from disadvantage backgrounds to benefit from financial support as well as access to opportunities in the arts, through The Power Foundation for Young People’s workshops and plays.”

Christopher can be seen on UCB TV (http://www.ucb.co.uk/tv) in Jovis, season three, as Mr. Bosanti Crayco until Easter. Jovis is played by Joseph Cheetham-Wilkinson.

The foundations says that its aim is: “To advance in life and relieve the needs of young people who are socially and economically disadvantaged by supporting them to access the performing arts through the provision of grants, workshops and plays so as to develop their capabilities so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society”

If you would like to support The Power Foundation for Young People, please visit the website www.thepowerfoundationfyp.com or contact Christopher Power at thepowerfoundationfyp@gmail.com .

For more information on Christopher’s career, go to: http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/9738-1271-3804.

Photo captions: 1) Christopher Power. 2) Christopher Power (left) as Mr. Bosanti Crayco with Joseph Cheetham-Wilkinson as Jovis in the UBC TV show, Jovis. 3) Dan Wooding.

About the writer: Dan Wooding is an award-winning author, broadcaster and journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 52 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the author of some 45 books and has two TV programs and one radio show in Southern California, and has reported widely for ANS from all over the world.

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