Each year, BBC Radio 4 works with the team at St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity to deliver its Christmas Appeal to raise money to support more people to find a safe place to call home.
A range of supporters and ambassadors help develop and launch the Appeal. The Appeal is authored and read by Reverend Dr Sam Wells, the Vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in the morning of the first Sunday in December. A further programme, Making a Difference, is aired later that day featuring charity Ambassador Hugh Dennis as he speaks to people who have been supported by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity in the past 12 months. Both programmes are broadcast again through the first full week in December, which this year fell between 1st and 8th December.
Hugh Dennis was also interviewed by the Radio Times, where he shared why he support St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity.
There are further opportunities to highlight the impact of the St Martin’s Charity’s work through features on other BBC Radio 4 programmes. This year, Tracey from a Rowan Alba hostel, where the charity supports the Psychology in Hostels project, was interviewed on Women’s Hour by Anita Rani.
Many more supporters including BBC Radio 4 presenters and actors join us on the morning that the appeal launches to answer calls from supporters who want to donate to the appeal.
Thanks to their continued involvement, supporters who call to make donations on the morning the Appeal is aired could end up speaking to Revd Sam Wells, charity Ambassador Hugh Dennis and some of our longer-term supporters including, Alexei Sayle, Felicity Finch, Souad Faress amongst others.
Can you help someone's wish for a home come true?
Can you help someone's wish for a home come true?
Felciity FInch at the Appeal Hub:
Felciity FInch at the Appeal Hub:
“I’ve been womaning the phones in a call centre, where I as a member of the Archers is answering the phone to callers who are donating to the Appeal. One of the reasons it means so much to them is that the VRF particularly, which is nationwide, tends to, and one woman used the phrase: ‘cuts through the bureaucracy.’
“It does not take months to get something done. You know with a frontline worker that is working with somebody, they can come to the [Charity] and say this person needs this small deposit to get on their feet. There is a realisation amongst those who are donating of how important it is to get out there and be helping people in this way.”
Felicity Finch, Actor in The Archers
