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

Conservatives ahead of Labour in attracting donations

The Conservatives are outstripping Labour in fundraising by more than a quarter ahead of the next General Election.

David Cameron's party received over £4 million in donations in the first quarter of this year, compared to the £2.8 million raised by Labour.

Despite Labour's inferior flow of funds, their donations are slightly up on the previous three months, while the Opposition's total was about one million pounds down, according to Electoral Commission records.

Donations to all parties in the period were up at £9.1 million in lieu of the recession, but the figures precede the tumult over MPs' expenses which many fear will dissuade benefactors from giving more.

The value of loans still to be paid off by all parties exceeds £20 million.

The Commission also reported that the British National Party had returned five donations from non-permissible sources and that Labour was one of several parties facing investigation for failing to report donations on time.