Truro Cathedral hosts event for more than 700 people
Hundreds of people packed into Truro Cathedral earlier this week for ShelterBox’s first Christmas carol concert at the venue.
The sold-out event was attended by more than 700 people and was held by the international disaster relief charity to raise awareness of its work.
Part of the concert was held under the stars following an evacuation of the building when a fire alarm interrupted the service. It didn’t dampen festive spirits as the carols continued by star and solar light which added to a special and memorable evening.
‘I promise you it was not our plan to give you a taste of displacement this evening and have you all stand outside,’ said Sanj Srikanthan, ShelterBox CEO.
‘It was an unplanned but timely reminder of how quickly things can change and how quickly you can lose a roof over your head.’
Guests from across Cornwall were treated to performances by the Cornish all female sea shanty group, The Clams. There was also singing from community choirs, the Suitcase Singers and the Ingleheart Singers.
Olha Lemesheva, a Ukrainian dentist living in Cornwall, did a reading of a poem by Ukrainian poet, Serhiy Zhadan.
Olha fled Kharkiv with her son to another part of the country in February 2022 to the sound of explosions – with only what they could fit in their rucksacks.
What would you take?
She read ‘What Would You Take?’ The poem is an emotional reflection on the importance of home, and echoes ShelterBox’s mission to ensure no one is left without shelter after disaster.
‘The year has been what I would describe as restless and disruptive,’ explained Sanj.
‘Right now, for ShelterBox from The Holy Land, to Pacific islands, to forgotten Sudanese refugees who are crossing into Chad in a conflict that doesn’t get the news, we have been busier than ever, and it has been relentless.’
‘So, it’s been really wonderful for this evening to take a moment for the stillness to set and to really reflect with all of you and why we do it.’
During the service, the audience were treated to a showing of ShelterBox’s new winter appeal, fronted by actor Imelda Staunton.
More than 700 people attended the ShelterBox Christmas Concert in Truro Cathedral. Image provided by ShelterBox.
The film includes Imelda reading ‘In the Cold Night.’ The children’s book was written by children’s author, Sarah Tagholm and illustrated by Karen George.
The story raises awareness of the threat the cold poses to people fleeing conflict or disaster and is inspired by the people the charity supported in Turkey and Syria after the earthquakes earlier in the year.
Tickets for the carol concert, just around the corner from ShelterBox HQ, were donation based and sold out within two weeks.
The event was supported by special guest, renowned presenter, writer and journalist, Fern Britton. She read the poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ by Clement Clarke Moore.
Shelterbox 2023: supported 250,000 people across 13 countries
This year, the Cornwall-based charity has supported around 250,000 people across 13 countries.
‘We don’t take that support for granted,’ said Sanj Srikanthan as he wrapped up the concert.
‘We don’t take you for granted. It’s really important to us that we can enjoy this moment to say how proud we are of the support you give.’
‘Cornwall is not a wealthy county compared to many others, but we are the contribution from Cornwall to the world to make the world a little bit better for people, who day by day, hour by hour, are losing their homes to disaster and conflict.’
During wintertime in places where temperatures drop below freezing, like Syria, Morocco and Ukraine, people living without adequate shelter face even more hardship.
ShelterBox is supporting people in these countries by providing emergency shelter aid and other essential items like children’s winter clothing and thermal blankets so that people can keep themselves, and their families, warm.
