News Story
Following a successful fundraising campaign as part of The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge, the music charity responsible for Town Hall and Symphony Hall have announced a brand-new digital broadcast of their annual Families Together at Christmas concert.
Getting together as a family at Christmas can be difficult for those who care for loved ones, which is why Town Hall Symphony Hall work with Midland Mencap to present a relaxed concert at Town Hall for all the family, every year.
This has been an incredibly tough year for everyone but yet again family carers have been at the forefront of ensuring their loved ones have stayed safe throughout the pandemic. It is impossible to thank them for their dedication, fortitude and resolve in doing so. As we now look forward, this is why our partnership with Town Hall Symphony Hall in offering a programme of events and activities that are carer themed is so important in ensuring we can, together, make sure family carers are included, feel valued and are not forgotten.Dave Rogers, Chief Executive for Midland Mencap
Caring can take a serious toll on carers’ emotional and physical well-being, as well as on personal relationships and family finances. There are 6.5 million carers in the UK looking after a dependent such as a parent, partner, child or friend; 292,866 are living in the West Midlands; and 107,380 are living in Birmingham.
Families Together at Christmas will be broadcast on Sunday 20 December at 11AM featuring music from Heavy Beat Brass Band, filmed at Town Hall, and a performance from Halas Homes’ Sing & Sign Choir, filmed at Halas Homes.
Members of Halas Homes Sing and Sign choir absolutely adore and look forward every year to performing at Birmingham Town Hall in Families Together at Christmas as well as taking part in Community Spirit at Birmingham Symphony Hall. So much has been taken away and lost from us all this year due to COVID, that still being able to take part in Families Together at Christmas using technology has been a truly uplifting experience for all of us and a great end to a very tough year.Alison Sayer, CEO for Halas Homes
Beyond the 800 events and performances on our stages every year, the music charity responsible for Town Hall and Symphony Hall provide life-changing experiences to over 18,000 young people and adults. Though the venues have been mostly closed throughout the pandemic, a major transformation of Symphony Hall’s public foyer areas has continued. The £13.2million redevelopment will ensure that the world-renowned concert hall continues to be a creative force and provides a more inclusive and welcoming experience for all audiences including additional disabled WCs and a Place to Change facility.
QAC is proud to work with THSH on our music and performance activities. They value the importance of inclusivity in what they offer their customers and our students have benefitted from amazing opportunities with them - from THSH employees visiting College and engaging with our Music Club, to our very own band 'QAC Collective' performing on their main stage to an audience, something that some of them had never even thought about doing. We have lots of collaborative ideas and activities and can't wait to make them happen as soon as we are able.Sarah Caldwell, Fundraising & Grants Manager for Queen Alexandra College (QAC)
With the generous support of The Reed Foundation, every pound donated during Town Hall Symphony Hall’s Big Give’s Christmas Challenge Campaign was doubled. In addition to the digital broadcast later this month, funds raised will also support the delivery of a Carers Week celebration at the world-renowned concert hall in June 2021.
Thank you to everyone who donated. This year has been devastating for our venues and our enforced closure has resulted in huge losses which directly impacts the young people and adults we introduce to a world of music every year. As is the case with all of the digital performances and activities we have continued - and will continue to deliver - in these desperate times, we would not have been able to present an online adaptation of Families Together at Christmas without the support of Town Hall and Symphony Hall’s audiences.Chris Proctor, Head of Programme for Town Hall and Symphony Hall
