Doorstep Carols 2021 - Impact Report
DOORSTEP CAROLS OFFICIAL THEME TUNE - composed by 12-year-old George Rink, produced and directed by voice artist Jane Pickworth (of Love Monster), Tony Reed, Genre Lead for Animation at CBeebies and composer Chris Renshaw (Thomas the Tank Engine) with the help of local singers and schoolchildren in Shrewsbury.
“I think this has to be one of my favourite shows I’ve worked on! I spoke to so many people around the county and it was lovely to feel so involved with the community during a beautiful event bringing people together during such a difficult time.” Sofia Hartwell, reporter for BBC Radio Somerset
Broadcast across the UK by 32 Local BBC Radio Stations and BBC Sounds, and featured on BBC Breakfast, Doorstep Carols brought the nation together in song on 15th December 2021. This is represented by a marked increase in listening figures across Local BBC Radio stations.
With the aim of raising awareness around the social and psychological value of collective music, Link for Good forged relationships with 18 partner charities to raise money and created connections, in particular for those otherwise isolated during the Christmas period. Charities included, The Ruth Strauss Foundation, Spread a Smile, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Ex Cathedra’s Singing Medicine, The Voices Foundation, Severn Hospice, Demelza Children’s Hospice, The Firefighters Charity, Youth Music, Triborough Music Hub, The Rhythm Studio Foundation, Dementia UK, Alzheimers Society, Love Music, NHS Charities Together, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, Military Wives Choirs.
Engaging with Care UK - a major UK care provider, over 102 carehomes provided the opportunity for their residents to sing along with the nation and their loved ones.
Once again, Doorstep Carols had a significant positive social impact.
“Doorstep Carols over the two years we’ve been doing it, has created a community here where we never had one before. Because of Doorstep Carols, we now have a What’s App group and meet up every week. Now there’s a committee responsible for organising the carols every year too!” Sally Feben-Smith, Kingston - Isle of Purbeck:
Feature events across the country demonstrate the reach and appeal of Doorstep Carols.
PopChoir took centre stage with a choir of over 100 at Trafalgar Square. The Spread a Smile Choir made up of seriously ill children and their siblings sang outside Great Ormond St Hospital, creating a special sense of connection with those singing inside.
Ex Cathedra’s Singing Communities team were outside St Paul’s Church in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, linking up with the Birmingham Children’s Hospital where they offer their singing medicine programme. In Civic Square, at South Loop Park, Birmingham, they served hot chocolate from the Floating Front Room, with the radio broadcast played out in the park. Organiser Rach Bromfield of the 'Department of Dreams', says: "Doorstep Carols really speaks to the neighbourhood work we're doing in Ladywood. This is a beautiful way to connect through the joy of song over mince pies, mulled wine and hot chocolate."
BBC Bristol led the singing with a choir under Concorde at Bristol Aerospace with the support of the Salvation Army band singing in Filwood, West Bristol.
BBC Radio Kent broadcast from Whitefriars in Canterbury with Canterbury Cathedral girls choir linking up with communities with reporters across the county.
In Winchester the Cathedral Chamber Choir and Winchester Acappella choir led singing outside the Cathedral supported by the Military Wives Choir.
The Cambridge Gospel Choir led singers outside Kings College Cambridge, Madelaine Cordes led singing on a cruise ship in the Channel.
At HMP Swaleside, prisoners were provided with words and given the opportunity to sing from their cells.
"We're having such fun. Although it is a secular event, everyone is pitching in from the local Rev, to a choir of children, handbell ringers and local people on the green." Prue Peters, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex
Rev Tom Atfield of Shrewsbury Abbey captured the essence of Doorstep Carols as a modern day take on an old tradition saying that “Singing brings people together in a really special way and gives people a point of connection. The tradition of wassailing through the dark days of winter is as old as time. We’ve now found a new way of doing that through technology and good organisation.”
With the impact of Covid 19 still very much present, many Christmas events were cancelled and many people found themselves once again isolating at home. Doorstep Carols, for the second year running enabled a sense of connection for those unable to be with loved ones. One post on the Me, Myself and Chronic Illness Blog said “To all my chronically ill friends who like me are unable to go outside, don't miss out - sing from your sofa or your bed and enjoy the festivities!!”
With resources, words, music and mp3 backing tracks, available free online, many schools took the opportunity engage children. Collective music has been restricted in schools during the pandemic and many schools have struggled to reintegrate this into the timetable. Music is enormously socially and psychologically beneficial for children, building confidence, social awareness, a sense of positive group identity and supporting mental health. With the support of Voices Foundation, Youth Music and Triborough Music Hub as well as Shropshire County Council, who supported the integration of the music into the school syllabus, Doorstep Carols provided schools and families with all they needed to engage children in a collective music event.
In future years Doorstep Carols looks to
build upon its existing infrastructure, to create strong and lasting links with councils and the department for education with the aim of integrating resources and messaging into the music and PSHE curriculum across the UK.
secure clear charity messaging to ensure donations are made in association with the event.
improve messaging and engagement to reach a broader audience and become a national tradition accessible to all.