Christmas Concert Raises Funds to Save Children’s Lives

Dame Joanna Lumley DBE FRGS,  Bibi Heal, Stephen Barlow, the Lord Cope of Berkeley PC, and our wonderful supporters and friends have all helped spread Christmas cheer across the globe and raise a fabulous £16,736 in vital funds for the forgotten children of Darfur.

Did you miss our Candlelit Christmas Concert this year? Here’s a link to the whole magical experience

After the success of last year, Kids for Kids took the magic online once again to share a celebratory mulled wine and mince pie live on Zoom with international friends and enjoy the beautiful Candlelit Christmas concert, which took place on 6th December in St Peter’s Church, London.

Patricia Parker OBE, Founder of Kids for Kids, was delighted to welcome supporters from all over the World including Albania, Norway, California and Australia!

“It was so special to be able to celebrate the start of the festive season together once again at the beautiful St Peter’s Church in London and then share the magic with our international friends again online,” said Patricia Parker, Founder of Kids for Kids.  “Just think of the lives we will change! This has been made even more special as four fabulous supporters very kindly enabled us to double all your wonderful donations received on the night and up until 31st December!”

The live concert in St Peter’s Eaton Square was packed to the rafters once again.  Volunteers decorated the  church beautifully so it was filled with candles, garlands and of course donkeys and our reindeer!   The atmosphere was euphorically festive as supporters from far and wide came together to celebrate 22 years of changing children’s lives.

“This year we were delighted to welcome Dame Joanna Lumley DBE FRGS, together with her husband, Stephen Barlow, who accompanied our wonderful Soloist, Bibi Heal,” says Patricia “Bibi sang an incredibly moving piece by Mozart, Laudate Dominum, as well as a fun french song ‘ Nous voulons une petite soeur’ by Poulenc. Bibi joined the angelic voices of the choirs of Queen’s Gate School in filling the church as everyone sang their hearts out, Roy Bilham and Thames Fanfare Brass were stunning as always and Lesley Magee had everyone captivated by her beautiful harp playing.”

We are so grateful to all the amazing people who support the concert, from the team at St Peter’s Eaton Square, to the volunteers led by the inexhaustible Ann and Richard Lienard, from our advertisers and friends, to our Musical Director, Ian Webb-Taylor.

Patricia ended her moving Christmas Message this year:

“Who wouldn’t like a little goat, or a lumpy parcel of spare parts for a handpump, on Christmas morning?  But don’t worry – your eagerly awaited parcels will be smart Christmas Certificates – your goat will be nibbling grass outside a little hut in Darfur. 

I appeal to each of you – please become a regular giver.  If you can, could you become a Children’s Champion?  You choose your projects and commit to three years.  That enables me to plan – and not to let down the poorest people in the world.  Tell anyone you meet how they can help too.  The need is off the spectrum.  The world is not listening.  But you are!

Please tell the world of the violence in Darfur, tell them that after all, we are not helpless – those children need our – your – help, right now.

In the midst of darkness, let us bring light to the world.”

May I wish you all a very Happy Christmas.”

Make a difference this Christmas! Donate Goats, Mosquito Nets or Seeds to Darfur and Gift a Certificate to a loved one – just click here to order.

And don’t forget – all donations made between 1st and 31st December 2023 will be DOUBLED!! Thanks to Dame Joanna Lumley DBE FRGS and three very generous anonymous donors who together have pledged £27,500, we could raise an astonishing £55,000! This would enable us to adopt an entire village and build a kindergarten, helping over 500 children to a better future long term.

Download and share a copy of our Founder’s Christmas Message 2023

Want to watch our wonderful Candlelit Christmas Concert once more?  And for those of you who couldn’t join us, catch up on the magical evening in it’s entirety here.

With grateful thanks to Amy Wallace, Principal Queen’s Gate School, HezyTek Productions for filming and editing the beautiful recording for Kids for Kids, and to our wonderful advertisers.

All photos of the event from the brilliant Michael Blyth Photography.