This is for last year. Details for 2012 will be added soon.

Join the region’s big singalong where you are

SING CHRISTMAS 2011
The BBC Leicester Big Christmas Sing

7pm – 8pm MONDAY 19 DECEMBER

Join in with this live BBC Radio Leicester broadcast in your local pub, club, community centre, care home or wherever people come together … tune in and sing along!

Around 100 venues joined in with SING CHRISTMAS last year:

“Very well done on a great radio show. Good mix of voices and music, punchy presentation, lots of places mentioned and a fab thought for the year.” Rev Barry Hill, Church of England Diocese of Leicester.

“The best yet! We were packed out at The Bull’s Head, Cosby. At one point we counted 150 singing. People started arriving an hour before just to be sure of a seat. This has now become a tradition in our village. Well done.” Ros Clark from St Michael and All Angels Church at The Bull’s Head, Cosby.

“There was a lovely atmosphere, the people who took part thoroughly enjoyed it. We had sherry and mincepies. Those involved loved being mentioned on the radio.” Susan Hough, New Wycliffe Home for the Blind, Rushey Mead.

SING CHRISTMAS is an interactive singalong carol concert organised by BBC Radio Leicester and Leicestershire Churches Media, and broadcast live on Monday 19 December 2011 at 7pm.

If you’re involved with a pub, club, community centre, care home or wherever people come together – plan to join in and SING CHRISTMAS. You will be able to download free resources, then simply tune in and sing along. Churches are invited to help their local venues take part.

There’ll be lots of well-known Christmas carols to sing along with, interactive elements and special guests – all celebrating the real meaning of Christmas.

Participating venues can get a mention by texting or emailing BBC Radio Leicester during the broadcast.

• nearer the time  register your venue and download free invitations, posters and the song sheet
• plan to receive the SING CHRISTMAS broadcast 7 – 8pm on Monday 19 December 2011 via BBC Radio Leicester on 104.9 FM, DAB digital or on the web bbc.co.uk/leicester
• invite people to come along and SING CHRISTMAS

For more information contact Jeff Bonser on 01858 440624 or email jeff@singchristmas.org.uk

SING CHRISTMAS is organised by BBC Radio Leicester and Leicestershire Churches Media - a Co-ordinating Group of Churches Together in Leicestershire,  registered charity no. 1139356.

2010 – What happened and the response

Here is the report based on completed questionnaires and emails from many of the 90 participating venues we know about.

Sing Christmas is the region’s big sing-along. Thousands of people in pubs, clubs, community centres, care homes, churches and other venues – and at home – tune in and sing along with the live Sing Christmas broadcast on BBC Radio Leicester.

In 2010 the broadcast was on Tuesday 21 December 7-8pm from The Guildhall, Leicester presented by Dave Andrews and John Florance. See running order. Christmas carols were led by the choir of St Thomas Church South Wigston directed by John Gull, accompanied by the Wigston Brass Ensemble conducted by Gary Sleath. BBC Radio Leicester contributors read the Christmas story from the Bible and the chaplain of Leicester City Football Club Revd Richard Gamble gave the Christmas Thought and Blessing. People singing along were invited to text in during the broadcast to get a mention on air.

Organisation

Stephen Butt at BBC Radio Leicester organised the broadcast content and venue, contributors and promotion on air, and information on the BBC website.

Jeff Bonser for the Leicestershire Churches Media Trust organised the Sing Christmas website, the  creation of online resources, participating venue registration and listing, and communication with venues and supporting churches, news releases and handling queries.

Participating venues

Over 90 venues registered online to join in with the broadcast. There were probably more plus the many people who joined in at home. The breakdown of venues is:

Pubs  37  (including 16 Everards pubs) , Care Homes  31, Churches  6, Clubs  4, Warden Controlled Flats  3, Community Centres  2, Supermarkets  2

plus others, e.g. a school, Town Hall Square, tea room, day nursery and a private house in France.

The brewers Everards invited their pubs in the region to join in with Sing Christmas and provided their own version of the resources plus ideas to create a whole Sing Christmas evening.

Church support

Around 60 individual churches or Churches Together groups supported or organised venues in their area.

Promotion

Stephen Butt arranged advance promotion on BBC Radio Leicester mainly through the John Florance Sunday programme. From mid-December a trail was broadcast across programmes and in the days leading up to Sing Christmas there were associated TFTDs and telephone interviews in the weekday breakfast show. The BBC website had content about Sing Christmas.

Jeff Bonser emailed venue contacts from previous years, liaised with Everards, contacted networks of care homes and churches, updated the Sing Christmas website and issued a news release.

What participants thought about Sing Christmas

These are typical comments, mainly in response to an emailed questionnaire:

I was at the Crows Nest the day after the event and they were delighted with how it went! Susan Forbes, Retail Marketing Manager, Everards

I can’t join my brother Bob and all at North House Care Home, Market Harborough so am listening via BBC iPlayer at home in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Eileen (in a text message sent during the broadcast)

An excellent evening at Badger Court, Loughborough.  This was their first time, and was hosted by St. Mary-in-Charnwood.  30 people attended, which was more than I expected given the weather.  We served tea and mince pies at the end, but requests for sherry next year.  Really good atmosphere.  Really really enjoyed the singing, well everything.  Still talking about it in January. Isabel Smith at Badger Court warden controlled flats, Loughborough

Excellent atmosphere. Very good all round. Had mince pies and crackers. We were listening via the Internet. It’s become established in Swinford and we would hope to repeat it each year. Steve Robbins from Lutterworth Community Church at The Chequers, Swinford

Good atmosphere, people from the village and from Lutterworth. Landlord gave out crackers which we pulled and some of us wore the hats. Keep up the good work. It’s a great event! Mary Wood from Lutterworth Community Church at The Chequers, Swinford

It was a lovely atmosphere with wine, sherry and mince pies.  The powerpoint presentation was very useful as all the residents followed on the big screen.  It was really festive and we will make more of it next year as it was really great fro the residents that joined in and we wished we had encouraged more to come. Thanks for a wonderful evening. Vicky Smart, Brook House Residential Home, Husbands Bosworth

We had a wonderful time. We enjoyed singing the carols as most of them were our favourites. Staff, residents, friends and families enjoyed it a lot.  Thank you all at Radio Leicester for making it possible and continuing what is fast becoming part of our  Christmas celebrations. Karen Wragg, Registered Care Manager, B.K.R. Epinal Way Care Centre

Excellent atmosphere, mix of ages, enjoyed singing and buffet after with hot mince pies and drinks. Dave King, St Paul’s & St Augustine’s Worship Centre

Wonderful atmosphere – quite a small pub so packed. Many people came because they enjoyed it last year and came again or had heard about it and came along. We shared mince pies and sweets that went down very well. Pub owner loved it, he’s never been so busy on a Tuesday night!!.  Keep doing it please. Alison Boston, Long Whatton Baptist Church at The Royal Oak, Long Whatton

We met in the Lounge of the Home. The staff were particularly enthusiastic and had provided mince pies and teas and coffees etc. for everyone.  All in all – a very enjoyable experience – and a perfect opportunity for church and community to meet. Lindy Kendell, from Market Harborough Baptist Church at Lenthall House Residential Home

We had a great turnout where we offered Free Mince Pies and Mulled Wine and along with Carol singing it made for a great atmosphere. Everyone said how nice it was to get involved with a singalong that was supported by so many people. Looking forward to the next Sing Christmas. Andrew Southerden, Landlord of the Coach & Horses, Kibworth

We had a lovely time, great excitement, everyone sang and got involved.  We lost the connection a couple of times but my husband Ken went to the piano and we sung the appropriate carol, while I rebooted and we re-joined the programme.  Had mince pies and mulled wine after the broadcast. Ruth Meyer, Le Tamaris, France

Our family home was decorated with bows of holly.  Christmas trees twinkled. Candles burnt with the adorable smell of Frankincense and Myrrh.  We welcomed our guest with a glass of mulled wine, soft drinks for the children.  Each and every adult and child sang their hearts out.  We took time to listen to the readings and loved being a part of Sing Christmas. Will do it again next year. Sarah Marvin, Oakham

The pub was great, very welcoming and friendly and very accommodating. We also gave out mince pies and had a toast with a glass of sherry. After the broadcast people sat round and talked, it was a lovely evening – a great way to get the Christmas message into the community. It’s a great thing well-done to Radio Leicester and all involved. Dave Payn, Kingsway Church at The Winstanley Arms, Braunstone

Excellent, first time it has been tried in Ratby and we have already talked about repeating the experience in 2011.  30 adults, 7 children. We amplified a DAB signal. Thoroughly enjoyed it as did others who came. Photos taken during the event are already on display in the Church. Revd Peter Hooper, Bradgate Team Rector at The Bulls Head, Ratby

Excellent evening – best attendance we’ve had yet, and a good atmosphere. The landlord provided mince pies.  90+ people. Raised money for LOROS – £105, I think. Bob Almond, Churches Together at the Royal Oak, Kirby Muxloe

We invited folk from Main Street Fleckney to the Manor House. We got 32 people. A number have said it was the highlight of their Christmas and are still talking about it. I don’t think this was just the mulled wine etc. We will do it again. Mike Townsend from Fleckney Baptist Church

We were not open to the public but shared the evening with our residents and the local church, we all came together in our lounge by the Christmas tree. We had a hot drink as everyone arrived to warm up on this cold night ready to sing along. Everyone had song sheets in large print that we had printed from the web site. We shared light refreshments and the odd glass of sherry at the end of the evening and said that we would join in again next year if Sing Christmas was happening. Tina Johnson, Hanover Court warden controlled flats, Loughborough

Held during the last hour the shop was open. The superstore were very helpful, they opened the cafe specially and served coffee and tea and mince pies. 70 people – close to the maximum capacity. Broadcast quality and content were excellent. Canon John Sharpe for Churches Together at Co-op Superstore, Glenfield

The evening was a great success.  Over 100 people there. They were given Christmas crackers to pull during the singing of “Away in a Manger” to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. Mince pies were handed out.  The atmosphere was very relaxed and happy and everyone joined in the carols, which were on an overhead screen.  Everyone said they had enjoyed themselves. Lynda Coleman for Churches Together at the Working Men’s Club, Newbold Verdon

Number of people at the venues

The average attendance was 40 people. Highest was 150 at The Bull’s Head, Cosby. Newbold Verdon Working Men’s Club had 115. There were 90 at the Royal Oak, Kirby Muxloe and 70 joining in at Glenfield Co-op Superstore.

Money raised for charity

Some venues collected money for charity including the following causes – Alzheimer’s Society; Parkinson’ UK; Guide Dogs for the Blind; LOROS Hospice; Mary Ann Evans Hospice; Motor Neurone Disease Society; Rainbows Children’s Hospice; Wishes for Kids.

Broadcast quality / content

Comments included:

Fabulous.
Very good.
Not so keen on solo carol singing but otherwise great.
Perhaps a bit too much of a carol / reading sandwich.
Glad there were lots of songs and talking was short.
Good traditional carols with wide appeal.
Band didn’t keep in regular time.
Why keep asking for text messages when ones you’ve got haven’t been read – some venues mentioned more than once?
Missed ‘Joy to the World’ carol. Include next year. [Many mentioned this]
Very enjoyable – liked just readings and carols. Keep this format.
Flowed much better than previous years.
Good to text a greeting – cheered when our venue mentioned. [Many said this]
Good selection of readings and carols.
Band and choir good, but need a bit more go, slightly faster and cheerful playing.
Chaplain excellent. Concise and meaningful – just right.
Missed having mincepies, crackers and the toast during programme – made a good social break.
Much easier to organise without interactive activities all the way through.
Very good. Felt the band was in the room with us.
Quality was fine. Carols could have been a bit faster.
How about getting TV involved so we can see something?
Quality good but too much duplication re. asking for and reading out text messages – became a bit boring and annoying.
Disliked repetition of who choir and choirmaster was.
Readers were a good mix but some not prepared.
Would be good to have celebrities involved.
Quality and content very good.

Sing Christmas website

Comments included:

Excellent. Very informative and clear. Very good. Easy to manoeuvre between different areas.
Helpful and easy. Practical and helpful.

Resources

i.e. poster, invitations, notes for venues, running order, song sheets (A5, A4 and giant print), running order slideshow.

Comments included:

All very good.
PowerPoint presentation very useful.
Liked the invites.
Looks professional, like a national project.
Posters – difficult to insert venue details.
Really good to have large print format song sheet.
Excellent – used invitations + A5 song sheet. No problems.
Song sheets and posters were great.
Could Bible readings be printed in full on song sheets.

Sing Christmas 2011 – likely to join in

Virtually everyone who responded said an enthusiastic yes.

Sing Christmas was organised by the Leicestershire Churches Media Trust (part of CHAD Media Trust) in partnership with BBC Radio Leicester and Churches Together in Leicestershire.