Young musicians raise money for charity

The international development charity has launched its Christmas Appeal and supporters are getting involved by taking part in carol concerts and holding collections during Advent services.

St Mary’s Church, in Selly Oak, is hosting one such event on Sunday, December 21 from 5pm-6.30pm.

Organiser Lucy Akehurst explained: “We are holding a concert with young string players from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. As well as solos and ensembles, there will be carols for the audience to join in with, and a raffle during the interval to raise funds for St Mary's Church and Christian Aid.”

This year’s Christian Aid Christmas appeal is focusing on the plight of the millions of people forced to flee their homes because of conflict, and the charity is sharing stories from communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

Millions of families, forced to flee the violence between multiple armed groups and government forces, now live in overcrowded, unsanitary, makeshift conditions with limited access to food, clean water and electricity. Vital infrastructure has been attacked, including hospitals, banks, schools and markets. The hospitals which remain open are overwhelmed and struggling to treat the wounded. With banks forced to shut for months at a time, those who can earn money are unable to access their pay, pushing their families into crisis.

But there is hope.

Christian Aid has worked with local organisations in the DRC since the 1970s and is currently helping people in camps and villages who have had to leave their homes.

Funds raised will help the organisation’s partners who provide cash assistance so people can buy essential supplies such as food, medicine or bedding; give people better access to clean water; and provide support for survivors of rape and gender-based violence.

To find out more about Christian Aid, please visit christianaid.org.uk.