Brenda Amos, Lesa Killoran and Rachel Price at Alma Beacon.
A lively 24-hour singathon at Windsor Boys’ School is hoped to raise enough money to keep a winter overnight homeless shelter running for an extra month.
The event will spread across September 26-27, 5pm to 5pm, with singing groups taking turns in 1-2-hour slots to keep the music going without pause.
Behind the event is a simple goal: keeping more people safe and supported through the winter at the Windsor Homeless Project in Alma Beacon.
Contributing are community, church and school choirs, including Windsor Boys’ School, whose choir is looking forward to the challenge of taking the 3am to 5am shift.
A lively grand finale planned for Saturday from 3pm to 5pm when all singers are invited back for a performance together.
The aim is to raise £20,000 to help keep Windsor Homeless Project shelter open for longer, provide extra food and bedding, and pay for overnight staff.
The fundraising target is intentionally bold – the shelter, which usually opens in January, hopes to extend its winter operation to mid-March if enough money is raised.
Funds will also allow the team to employ overnight staff – something that will be very important. Current volunteers have day jobs and cannot work through the night.
Singathon organiser and Windsor Homeless Project volunteer Debbie Murphy said the shelter provides an important space for people fleeing domestic abuse and other harsh circumstances.
“There are lots of life-changing stories,” Debbie said. “It’s just given people time to get themselves organised – a good night’s sleep, warmth, a bit of care and attention – and they often really turn their lives around.”
For the singathon, a small number of slots remain for choirs to join up, including Friday 7-8pm and 9-10om, and into the wee hours of Saturday morning from midnight to 3am.
If interested, contact organiser and head of music at Windsor Boys’ School James Manwaring at manwaringmusic@icloud.com
Because the singathon is happening at a school, it can’t be open to the public all night – just the singers and families.
But supporters are welcome to come at the open community slots, which are all at more sociable hours.
These are on Friday, 5-7pm (the opening), Saturday 9-11am, and Saturday 3-5pm (the finale).
To donate to the singathon, go to: justgiving.com/page/-24-hour-windsor-homeless-project-sing-a-thon
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