IT'S set to be a classic Sister Act story. The Sing It! Youth Gospel Choir from Southampton nearly ceased to exist after desperately low funding was forcing it to break up.

But the gospel group has now received funding from national organisation Youth Music.

The choir had applied for the funds three months ago and after an anxious wait have received the vital funding that will last until July 2009.

And now acclaimed gospel choir singer Karen Gibson is also hoping to enter the group for a gospel singing competition to complete the Sister Act-style turnaround.

Karen, who runs the award-winning Kingdom Choir in London, believes the group has developed so well they could go all the way.

The group brings young people from different backgrounds and areas of Southampton together to enjoy gospel music.

The choir has 50 members of which 30 regularly attend and until now has been funded by a donation from the European Social Fund.

Tim Gallop, who runs the choir alongside Nicky Manning and Kate Murelli, said: "There was tears from both adults and the youngsters at the last concert, everyone was just hoping that the choir could continue.

"Now we have the funding for another year we can continue to develop the choir."

Karen Gibson's involvement is a big boost.

She is one of the country's most noted and experienced gospel tutors and has been involved with vocal groups, soloists and choirs for over 20 years.

She facilitates choirs and conducts gospel workshops all around England as well as abroad in countries such as Italy, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, France, Poland, Nigeria and Seattle, USA. Karen's Kingdom Choir is a collective of outstanding singers drawn from various denominations in the south east area of England. They are a unique group of dedicated men and women, who blend choral discipline with a raw gospel spiritual sound.

The Kingdom Choir is now one of the most sought after choirs for radio and television work and has performed with many stars including Elton John, The Spice Girls, Luther Vandross, Michael Ball, Leslie Garrett and Alexander O'Neal as well as gospel greats Andrae Crouch, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Helen Baylor, Alvin Slaughter and Jessy Dixon.

The Kingdom Choir has also been involved with numerous charities including Amnesty International, Bishop Desmond Tutu's PEN for political prisoners, Jubilee 2000 and The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and performed for Nelson Mandela.

Further, Karen Gibson has directed a 3,000-voice choir at the Royal Albert Hall and conducted the Kingdom Choir at Buckingham Palace during the procession at the Queen's Jubilee which was televised live.

n The Sing It! Southampton Youth Gospel Choir group meet at Springhill Junior School every fortnight and anyone wishing to join the choir is welcome to attend any of the upcoming meetings on June 2 or June 9.

Choir singers are usually between the ages of 16 and 25; for further information contact Tim by email at tim.gallop@ntlworld.com.