Carolling back on track after storm cancellations

The Salvation Army is calling on the public to bring a brolly, wrap up warm and support its street carolling in towns and cities across the UK, after last weekend’s Storm Darragh forced several brass bands to cancel. These carolling events are a vital source of income for Salvation Army church community projects and The Salvation Army is now trying to make up for lost donations. 

The money raised from hundreds of street concerts stays local, with each band keeping the income to invest back into the local community. While every Salvation Army church offers something different, projects could include food banks, Christmas meals for isolated older people and drop in services for people forced to sleep rough. 

Captain James Addis who leads The Salvation Army in Gloucester said: 

“Every year we’re out carolling with collection boxes in Gloucester city centre, and this year we were forced to cancel owing to the strong winds. It’s an event where we do really well with financial donations, with the Gloucester community giving generously and singing along to the carols. 

“With this one event, we would usually collect around £1,500 with the funds going towards hot meals for people who are homeless and food parcels for families who won’t have any food to put on the table this Christmas. Obviously, we would rather the public stayed in to stay safe and warm but we missed being out there to celebrate with everyone and are trying to find ways to make up for the donations we would usually receive.”

The Salvation Army has set up an emergency phone number that that public can call if they would normally donate to a local band, as well as a dedicated QR code. Any money raised from this number and QR code will be evenly distributed to Salvation Army churches for use in their local communities. Call 0800 083 6644 or scan the QR code.

The Salvation Army’s Regent Hall band had been due to go out carolling in Central London last Saturday but were forced to cancel this due to the stormy weather.

Salvation Army Band leader, Paul Sharman, said: “We enjoy carolling in London and people often generously donate when they see one of our bands out playing. Any money collected last weekend would have gone to the work of our Regent Hall church on Oxford Street. The church supports people in various ways including the No. 10 drop-in for people who are homeless and the Regent Hall community wardrobe which provides pre-loved and new clothes and shoes for people who otherwise could not afford them.” 

Wales was particularly badly hit by Storm Darragh. The red weather alert meant that the Christmas carol service at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales had to be called off, and several bands decided it was not safe to travel. 

Major Julian Short, Commanding Officer at Cardiff Ely Salvation Army said:

“We were due to be carolling outside in Llantwit Major. But there was no way we could travel the country roads around Cardiff to get there with a red weather warning in place. But we will be out and about again this weekend. We will be inside in the warm playing carols in a local supermarket in the city with a guest saxophone player.”

Regardless of the weather or where you live in the country, everyone can watch for free The Salvation Army’s annual Carol Concert at the Royal Albert Hall which is available to stream here. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO6uf4wKJnU 

Selected highlights will also be broadcast on BBC Regional Radio on Christmas morning.

Every Salvation Army serves its local community in a different way. To find out what your nearest Salvation Army is offering locally and how you can donate to their work, visit: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/map-page