Carollers Support Local Charities

Lincoln's Our Lady's Carollers, who collect donations during the festive season for local charities, have met to decide how to distribute the monies raised during the 2011 season.

The Carollers have given £2,900.00 for local charities this year and the following charities have or will recieve donations of between £100 - £1,000:

1. Lincolnshire Air Ambulance
2. Cherry Willingham Special Families
3. Youth 2000
4. St Mary Le Wigford Church's drop-in centre
5. Down's Heart Group
6. Lincoln Samaritans
7. Age UK (Lincoln Branch)

Carollers Help Local Charities Despite Weather Problems

In the city of Lincoln, for many residents and visitors alike, nothing is more synonymous of the way in which the city celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ than the generosity shown in the donations they make to the street-strolling, tune-touting, Our Lady's Carollers who make such a positive make collecting money for local charities.

The Carollers were not deterred entirely by the bad weather that caused disruption to many - and even led to the cancellation of the famous Lincoln Christmas Market - and that said had a reasonable year which has been both rewarding and enjoyable for all concerned.

The Carollers raised around £1,400.00 for local charities this year. Some of the charities to receive donations are:

• Special Families (Cherry Willingham)
• Marriage Care

A Christmas of Carolling Helps Local Charities

As January begins to slip away and the hours of daylight steadily increase our minds turn away from thoughts of Christmas. However, regular readers will be aware that in the winter months I spend my time out and about with the Our Lady's Carollers collecting money for local charities..

We had another good year which has been both rewarding and enjoyable for all concerned. We went to lots of events, including the opening of the Lincoln Christmas Market where we were part of the official opening, private parties, singing in the resturants of the city or even on the streets of the Bailgate area we had a very enjoyable season.

The Carollers raised around £2,500.00 for local charities this year and the following charities will recieve donations of between £100 - £300:

1. Special Families (Cherry Willingham)
2. Lincoln & Lindsey Blind Society
3. Catholic Deaf Service
4. Marriage Care
5. St. Barnabas Family Support Group

The majority of the monies raised in 2009 will be donated to Strut in the Community a charity which provided short breaks for children and young people with disabilities and special needs in Lincolnshire, who have had financial difficulties during the recession.

The Lincolnshire Echo reported earlier in the year that Strut in the Community, which supports around one hundred and fifty disabled county children each year, has seen a dramatic cut in donations coupled with higher overheads and now needs to find at least £10,000 to plug a funding gap; up to seven members of staff may still have to be made redundant in the coming months.

Organisation Manager, Ms Aimee Holland was quoted as saying:

"We have seen an £86,000 drop in donations from last financial year to this and despite making significant changes to the charity, moving into community based settings for care and opening a new showroom for furniture, we have not been able to bridge the gap this has created in the budget."

Vandals Steal Donations From Nativity Crib Destined For The Homeless

Vandals have damaged a Nativity display and stolen cash donations that were destined to spread festive cheer among Lincoln's homeless. They attacked the Christmas Crib close to the Halifax Bank in the Cornhill square in Lincoln city centre.

The display was pushed onto its side so the thieves could gain access to the compartment that is used to collect donations for the Nomad Trust. The Knights of Saint Columba, an organisation within the Catholic community, who organise for the Nativity scenes to be exhibited at the Cornhill and in Castle Square say they may never put them up again.

Gordon Reynolds, who attends Our Lady of Lincoln Catholic Church, said the action of the yobs would deprive the Nomad Trust of vital funds.

"This just shows what society seems to be descending into.
"It's so sad that
we paint and repair the cribs and tend to them and then someone does
this.
"For the past few years we've been bolting the display around a tree to
try and stop vandalism. I just don't understand why they have done it.
"If
they don't agree with the religious aspect of it then they should just walk by.
We are not asking them to stand and look at it if they don't want to."

The Nativity scenes have been a festive fixture in the city for more than 30 years, with the city’s Catholic community spending their free time tending to the displays in an effort to raise money for charity. Around £300 is raised each year.

The vandalism, which happened overnight on Thursday last week, has been reported to Lincolnshire Police and officers are now appealing for information. Anyone with information about the incident should call Lincolnshire Police on (01522) 532222, quoting incident number 87 and give the date of Friday, 4th December 2009.

Lincoln Christmas Market Carolling

This coming weekend hails the return to Lincoln's Cathedral Quarter the annual Christmas Market.

Visitors are welcomed to this beautiful city and the traditional Christmas Market, where everybody can enjoy cultural entertainment and stroll around three hundred stalls nestled with in the medieval square and surrounding area.
Lincoln Christmas Market has developed dramatically since it began as the UK’s first German-style traditional market with just 11 stalls.

The Christmas Market gives visitors and residents a truly festive experience, with a traditional, high quality event for all the family.

At 6:00pm on the impressive West Front steps of the Cathedral Our Lady of Lincoln Carollers - a noted local highlight (Daily Telegraph) - will perform as part of the official programme prior to the arrival of the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral and the Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Lincoln who will officially open the Christmas Market, after evensong, at approximate 6:15pm, Thursday, 3rd December. Greetings are expected to be made by the Oberburgermeister from Neustadt, the town twinned with the City of Lincoln.

Our Lady of Lincoln Carollers in Castle Square

Following this the Boys and girls of the Cathedral Choirs will sing and two professional opera singers thereafter.

Giles McNeill said:

"The Christmas Market is such a part of the seasonal festivities ofLincoln.

"Love it or loath it, it one thing the city is known for and does well. I am pround to be a member of the Our Lady of Lincoln Carollers and look forward to entertaining the crowd on Thursday evening."