On Sunday 5th December Fine & Country hosted a 'Carols by Candlelight' event at King's College in Cambridge raising over £10,500, which will be donated to homeless charities across the Cambridgeshire region.

The evening was a joyous affair with attendees ranging from Fine & Country clientele to local Cambridge folk, as well as family and friends from afar of those studying at the prestigious university. The event was staffed by volunteers from Fine & Country Head Office, eager to offer their Sunday evenings to the worthy charity event. With around 500 people seated in pews, well distributed to allow for Covid-safety measures to be in place, the service began with a warm welcome from the King’s College Chapel’s Dean, Stephen Cherry.

Thereafter followed the yuletide festivities! There were astonishing vocal displays from the King’s Voices mixed choir accompanying melodic chants from the audience of familiar Christmas carols, while the choir also performed incredible renditions of songs and hymns. There were also organ solos and readings by students of the college and advocates of the charities. The evening was followed by a mulled wine and mince pie reception enjoyed by many as an opportunity to get into the festive spirit in the magical atmosphere of the chapel at King's College.

The night was significant for more than just the charities receiving donations, as it also saw the final curtain for Ben Parry, King’s College choir's Director. Not only has Ben been involved in The Fine & Country Foundation's charity concerts for the past three years, but he had also been an assistant musical director at the college for a decade and is an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for his services to the music industry. He has decided to take his final bow with the choir to focus on other musical commitments outside of King’s.

Simon Leadbetter, Global CEO for Fine & Country spoke at the event and extended his sincere thanks to all the attendees: “Simply put, we could not achieve the extraordinary totals we reach at each fundraising event without the generosity and kindness of people wanting to make a difference to the lives of those less fortunate than themselves. Our friends, colleagues, families, and customers all come together to fundraise and donate time and money to these very worthy causes, and it is truly a privilege to be involved in events such as this one.”

The £10,500 raised by The Foundation at the carol concert will be divided between Emmaus Cambridge, Jimmy's Cambridge, Wintercomfort and Cambridge Cyrenians – four industrious and devoted charities offering vital services to homeless people in and around the city.

Emmaus Cambridge

Based in the heart of Cambridge, Emmaus provides support and accommodation for homeless and socially excluded individuals, known as companions. They provide their companions with safe and secure accommodation and opportunities in the social enterprise. Emmaus Cambridge is in the process of refurbishing 10 new bedrooms in the #10 Fresh Starts project to help a total of 44 people.

Jimmy's Cambridge

Founded in 1995 as Cambridge’s first year-round emergency night shelter, Jimmy’s has grown and developed over the years to make a substantial difference to the homeless community. In 2012, Jimmy’s launched their newly refurbished premises with daytime activities and skills training. Jimmy’s has refined their strategy to focus on short and long-term support for their service users.

Wintercomfort 

This day centre is open seven days a week to provide vital welfare services and opportunities for learning and training. A combination of group and individual-tailored support allows the staff at Wintercomfort to address and resolve the root causes of their clients’ issues. 

Cambridge Cyrenians

Cambridge Cyrenians provides a range of accommodation, support and specialist services for homeless men and women. We believe in homes, not hostels – where residents are encouraged to take responsibility for their own lives, with support from our professional team of staff and volunteers.

Since the Foundation’s inception, over £600,000 has been donated to worthy causes both in the UK and around the world. The Foundation hopes to continue building on this success, with the goal of raising £1,000,000 over the coming years for homeless charities. Find out more about The Foundation's work and how to donate here.