Livability held their annual Christmas Carol Service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square last Tuesday, 9th December.
The Service was hosted by Livability Vice President and BBC Songs of Praise presenter Pam Rhodes, along with the BBC presenter Reverend Canon Roger Royle. The actress Susan Jameson (Coronation Street, Take Three Girls and When the Boat Comes In) was also present at the event and did a special reading.
A highlight of the Christmas Carol Service for Livability supporters was the performance by students from Livability’s Nash College, a specialist college for students with moderate to profound learning disabilities in Bromley. The students performed the Shakin’ Stevens classic ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ using the Makaton sign language technique.
Livability’s Christmas Carol Service happens every year and is a chance to bring together fundraisers, donors, volunteers, employees, service users and generally those with a connection to the charity.
As a Christian charity, the setting of St. Martin-in-the-Fields always makes the event particularly special not only as it is a beautiful church to spend time in but also because of their ethos of care and inclusivity.
Lisa Hemsley, Head of Community & Major Donor Fundraising at Livability, said, ‘It was one of the best Christmas Carol Services Livability have done – without doubt. It was really well attended and the readings, hymns and performances were beautiful without exception. The performance by the students from Nash College was a definite highlight, however, and raised the centuries old roof off St Martin’s!’
This year (2014) was particularly important for Livability as it was a chance to tell people about Livability’s new fundraising campaign: The Home Design Appeal.
The purpose of the Home Design Appeal is to raise funds for residents in six Livability residential care homes who need their kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms renovated and upgraded to enable more independence and freedom of choice.
Although donors and fundraisers come from far and wide, the work done by churches and the Christian community for the Home Design Appeal has been particularly helpful. The Carol Service was a great opportunity for Livability staff and representatives to thank supporters for their help and inspire them to continue in their assistance through 2015.
The Home Design Appeal is also supported by Pam Rhodes. For more information: https://www.livability.org.uk/church/church-fundraising/church-fundraising-home-design-appeal/
Livability, 6 Mitre Passage, London SE10 0ER.
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