Community Carol Singing for Prospect Hospice

IIn order to engage the wider community we came up with a festive plan to raise funds for a much-loved local charity this Christmas, by encouraging singers to bring some festive cheer to their neighbourhoods.

Josie Williams, the Community Arts Development Officer at Commonweal School, has fond memories of singing with her late mum in Goddard Avenue, and urged people from across Swindon to give one hour in the week before Christmas to raise funds for Prospect Hospice in Wroughton.

“Mum and I used to go out carol singing along Goddard Avenue where I live on Christmas Eve and raise money for charity,” says Josie. “The people often said it really made it feel like Christmas.

“Sadly my Mum passed away three years ago of cancer, and the idea is in honour of her,” she adds. “Edna Williams was a great lady and she loved to sing. Indeed she won numerous medals at the Swindon Music Festival and was in the Thamesdown Ladies Choir amongst others. She loved people and frequently ‘…entertained the old folk in nursing homes’, as she used to say, although she was in her eighties at the time!”

“Commonweal School is committed to community performing arts, so encouraging neighbours to get together and go out and carol sing for an hour on Monday 21st December from 6-7 pm was a great way to meet your neighbours, spend a fun hour with friends and raise money for the Prospect Hospice. The take up on this first year wasn't massive, but I'd like to thank everyone who took part. Next year I am sure we will have more people on board ” adds Josie.

“Josie’s idea to raise funds for Prospect Hospice through community carol singing is one we really want people to get behind,” says Prospect’s community fundraiser Jane Kendall. “Everyone loves Christmas carols and if lots of people just take one evening in the run up to the big day, it could raise valuable funds to support the care of our patients over the Christmas and into the new year.”