East London News A Force for the community…
TV’s Ruth Langsford hosted 600 guests at the Alzheimer’s Society’s dementia-friendly carol concert on 15th December, raising over £23,000 for the Society. This brings the total amount raised by Carols by Candlelight London to £59,000 over the last three years.
This year’s event included festive readings from Sir Tony Robinson, Lesley Manville OBE and comedian Hugh Dennis as well as musical performances from leading chamber choir Vasari Singers. There was also a performance from an Alzheimer’s Society Singing for the Brain group from Wandsworth.
The charity worked hard to make the concert dementia-friendly, setting an example to us all. Volunteers working on the night had been trained in supporting people with dementia; the hall was kitted out with dementia-friendly signage; and additional stewards were on hand to guide people to their seats.
Tim McLachlan, the Alzheimer’s Society Operations Director for Greater London, said: “Carols by candlelight was the perfect way for everyone to get into the Christmas spirit whilst raising vital funds for people affected by dementia. Christmas can be a challenging time for many people who are affected by dementia, so it was heartening to see people coming together to celebrate the season and raise vital funds.”
•For more information about Alzheimer’s Society’s brand new guide to support arts venues in becoming dementia-friendly, go to www.alzheimers.org.uk/arts
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