Date published: 04 December 2015 by Anna Jackson

St. Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge, London was packed full of guests and festive spirit on Thursday 3 December at our celebrity studded carol concert to raise funds for families caring for a life threatened or terminally ill child.

Voted as one of London’s top carol concerts, stars included Niamh Cusack (Heartbeat), Trystan Gravelle (Victor Colleano in Mr Selfridge), Sarah Montague (The Today programme), Nicholas Parsons (Just a Minute) and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) who each performed a reading to show their support.

Guests also had the pleasure of listening to performances from Cheam School Chapel Choir, Opera Holland Park, Brass Routes brass quartet, The Singing Cabbie and six year old Jacob Phillips whose family is supported by Rainbow Trust. Jacob receives sibling support from Rainbow Trust to help him and his family care for his one year old brother Charlie who has been seriously ill since he was born just before Christmas last year.

The final amount raised was over £31,000. Emma Haines Director of Marketing and Fundraising at Rainbow Trust said:

“We were delighted to welcome so many guests and supporters to our incredibly popular carol concert. Christmas can often be one of the hardest times of the year for the families we support. This event really kick-started the festive season whilst fundraising, enabling us to support as many families as possible this Christmas.”

Click here to make a donation via our website to help families this Christmas, call 01372 363438 or text RAINBOW to 70111 to donate £3 plus your standard network rate.

Just £3 could buy a picture book full of bright pictures to encourage a child’s early language skills or £6 could help spread Christmas joy by giving a surprise stocking to lift spirits, packed full of children’s favourites including stickers, crayons and books.