A record-breaking 1,675 children got into the carnival spirit on Monday as they set a new world record for the largest ever Samba band at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The youngsters, aged between seven and 16 and from 27 schools across the UK capital, were joined by dancers from the London School of Samba to perform a specially-commissioned piece of music for the attempt.

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The event was organised by world music education initiative Inspire-works in support of the launch of the second Street Child World Cup - a global campaign that brings street children from around the world together to play football and raise awareness about their lives.

Running parallel to the world famous Rio Carnival, the performance created an enormous wall of noise that enveloped the iconic venue. It marked the culmination of weeks of hard work by the pupils who had taken part in a 10-week intensive samba course with Inspire-works facilitators to prepare for the record attempt.

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Speaking after the successful attempt, Street Child World Cup Chief Executive John Wroe said: “Today over 1,600 school children have made a stand and banged their drums for the rights of street children across the world. Their message was loud and clear: no child should have to live on the streets.”

Caroline McNamara, Senior Education Consultant at the Royal Albert Hall, said “We were so proud to support this great cause as part of our education and outreach work and what an achievement to break a World Record in the process. We were delighted to welcome all the schools involved for what was an unforgettable event”

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Monday’s attempt smashed the previous world record, which was set by 1,038 people in São Paolo, Brazil in 2001.

SCWC kicks off in three weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with up to 250 street-connected boys and girls from 19 countries on five continents coming together to play football and challenge the negative perceptions and treatment of street children everywhere.

To find out more about the Street Child World Cup, head to http://streetchildworldcup.org/

A record-breaking 1,675 children got into the carnival spirit on Monday as they set a new world record for the largest ever Samba band at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The youngsters, aged between seven and 16 and from 27 schools across the UK capital, were joined by dancers from the London School of Samba to perform a specially-commissioned piece of music for the attempt.

The event was organised by world music education initiative Inspire-works in support of the launch of the second Street Child World Cup - a global campaign that brings street children from around the world together to play football and raise awareness about their lives.

Running parallel to the world famous Rio Carnival, the performance created an enormous wall of noise that enveloped the iconic venue. It marked the culmination of weeks of hard work by the pupils who had taken part in a 10-week intensive samba course with Inspire-works facilitators to prepare for the record attempt.

Speaking after the successful attempt, Street Child World Cup Chief Executive John Wroe said: “Today over 1,600 school children have made a stand and banged their drums for the rights of street children across the world. Their message was loud and clear: no child should have to live on the streets.”

Caroline McNamara, Senior Education Consultant at the Royal Albert Hall, said “We were so proud to support this great cause as part of our education and outreach work and what an achievement to break a World Record in the process. We were delighted to welcome all the schools involved for what was an unforgettable event”

Monday’s attempt smashed the previous world record, which was set by 1,038 people in São Paolo, Brazil in 2011.

SCWC kicks off in three weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with up to 250 street-connected boys and girls from 19 countries on five continents coming together to play football and challenge the negative perceptions and treatment of street children everywhere.

To find out more about the Street Child World Cup, head to http://streetchildworldcup.org/