A Work Placement Coordinator at Bolton College is turning his passion for music in to one of his biggest challenges – writing one song a week for the whole of 2018.

Matt Skidmore is raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a cause close to his heart after his grandmother passed away from the disease in 2010. He is hoping that funds raised in her memory will help to fund research and support those suffering from the illness.

Matt, who can play the guitar, ukulele, bass and piano, graduated from Salford University in 2013 with a degree in Popular Music and Recording. So far, he has raised £391 and is hoping to exceed his target of £500 by the end of the year.  

To accomplish his feat, Matt has transformed his spare room in Preston into a mini recording studio. He cites bands Blink 182 and Green Day as just some of his influences, with most of the 15 songs recorded so far embracing a rock or pop genre; topics vary from the joys of spring to modern society’s addiction to social media.  

Matt, who has worked at Bolton College for the past five years, said, “I love to write, so thought this would be a perfect way to remember my grandma whilst raising some much-needed funds for a fantastic charity. I like to be as real and honest as possible, so I’ve been writing songs about relationships, mental health, society and anything that comes to mind; this week’s song, ‘Going Back to Bed’, is about those days where you feel like retreating under your duvet and hiding from the world and I’ve also written a song, ‘Clouds’, from the perspective of my two kittens!”

Over the coming weeks, Matt is hoping to experiment with different styles and will cover upcoming events, including the World Cup in June. He is also starting to take song requests from the public, for just a small donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Pete Smith, Matt’s manager and Business Development Team Leader at Bolton College said, “We knew Matt loved music but didn’t realise how talented he was, we’re seeing a whole new side to him. We think Matt’s songs are excellent, and are very proud of his achievements; we’re sure he’ll have no trouble smashing his £500 target.”